The Cross River State Police Command has halted a Sunday service at the Chapel of Redemption, University of Calabar, following a dispute over control of the church’s affairs.

The police said the intervention was necessary to prevent the disagreement between rival factions from degenerating into violence.

The crisis reportedly began when a university caretaker committee and an interim chaplain allegedly appointed by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Offiong Offiong, attempted to take charge of the service being conducted by the chapel’s Chaplain, Rev. Joseph Ushie.

The development created tension among worshippers, prompting the police to stop the service.

Godwin Etim of the Cross River State Police Command said he ordered the suspension of the service because of fears that the situation could lead to bloodshed.

“There is palpable tension, and with what I see here, if I allow the service to continue, it will lead to bloodshed in this church,” he said.

Etim said he had spoken with Rev. Ushie, the interim chaplain and a member of the church’s Board of Trustees, after which the parties agreed that the service should be suspended to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

He said the parties had been invited to the command on Monday for a meeting and urged them to remain calm.

The dispute comes amid a subsisting order of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt restraining the Vice-Chancellor and persons acting through him from interfering with the chapel’s premises and activities.

Rev. Ushie had sued the Vice-Chancellor, the university Registrar, Dr. Chukwuka Icha, and three others through his counsel, Chief Mba Ukweni, SAN.

Justice Phoebe Ayua subsequently granted an injunction restraining the defendants and anyone acting through them from interfering with the chapel and its activities.

The court also ordered the parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application fixed for August 20.

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