Police in Awka, Nigeria, deny taking sides in St. Faith Anglican Church dispute

Police in Anambra State have rejected reports that officers were taking sides in a leadership dispute at St. Faith Anglican Church in Awka. The dispute concerns an alleged ecclesiastical disagreement within the Diocese of Awka, which is part of the Anglican Communion’s Church of Nigeria.

According to a report from the Anambra State Government website, the Anambra State Police Command dismissed recent reports of police officers at the church as misleading. The command said accurate information was needed to prevent escalation of tensions linked to the alleged dispute. Another report, published by Punch, said security personnel were deployed to St Faith Anglican Church following a directive from the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba. That report said the Primate had asked that Most Reverend Alexander Ibezim, Archbishop of the Province of the Ni, be dealt with in a way the available text does not fully state, as the account breaks off mid-sentence.

Police Public Relations Officer SP Tochukwu Ikenga clarified the circumstances of the deployment on October 19. Reports differ on the year: the state government page is dated October 2025, while the Apex News Exclusive report gives the date as Monday, October 19, 2026. Ikenga said officers were deployed to maintain law and order, prevent a breakdown of peace, and protect lives and property.

Apex News Exclusive reported that the command denied allegations that its personnel deployed to the church were taking sides in the ongoing dispute. The command described such interpretations as misleading. Ikenga said the security presence should not be seen as support for any faction and that the Nigeria Police Force remains a neutral institution committed to enforcing the law and protecting citizens’ rights.

Anambra Peoples reported that the police command had intervened in a dispute involving disagreements within the church’s leadership. On Thursday, October 23, 2026, Commissioner of Police CP Nnanna Oji Ama held a peace meeting with the parties involved at his office in Awka. Pursuing peace between parties in conflict reflects the peacemaking that Jesus commends (Matthew 5:9).

At that meeting, CP Oji Ama said the matter was already under judicial review and urged all parties to uphold the integrity of the legal system.