Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Pandemonium erupted at the Chapel of Redemption Church on the University of Calabar campus on Sunday, August 9, 2026, when operatives of the Cross River State Police Command stormed the premises and ordered an ongoing service to end abruptly over a festering leadership crisis that has split the congregation into warring factions. The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Godwin Etim, who led a tactical squad to the church, said intelligence at his disposal indicated that allowing the service to continue could result in deadly violence and bloodshed. Worshippers were thrown into confusion as armed policemen took over the church, with some scampering for safety amid palpable tension between two factions laying claim to the leadership of the chapel.
The immediate trigger for the police intervention was a confrontation during the 8:00 a.m. service, when key church leaders reportedly arrived at the chapel and tensions escalated into a rowdy session. According to reports, supporters of Rev. Dr. Joseph Ushie, the former Chaplain of the Chapel, arrived at the church alongside him, interpreting a recent court order as giving him the right to return and resume his duties. The service, which had already commenced with Prof. James Okon conducting proceedings, was interrupted when Ushie's supporters challenged the leadership, resulting in heated exchanges. The situation became more complicated when leaders sympathetic to the Interim Chaplain, Rev. Israel Eyo, were present around the former Chaplain, with Eyo reportedly seated close to Ushie. The gesture was allegedly misconstrued by some of Ushie's supporters as an attempted takeover, further inflaming an already tense congregation.
The leadership dispute at the Chapel of Redemption, which serves members of the university community and other worshippers, has a complex and protracted history. The matter is currently before the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt Judicial Division, adding a legal dimension to the crisis. On August 4, 2026, Justice Phoebe M. Ayua granted an interim injunction restraining the management of the University of Calabar and other respondents from interfering with the UNICAL Chapel of Redemption pending the hearing of a fundamental rights suit filed by Rev. Dr. Joseph Ushie. The court ordered the respondents to maintain the status quo ante bellum and refrained from entering, trespassing upon, taking over, locking up or in any way interfering with the premises of the chapel. The suit borders on alleged violations of Sections 36, 38 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution, relating to the right to fair hearing, freedom of religion and freedom of movement.
The church's parent body, the Assemblies of God Nigeria, had earlier taken disciplinary action against Ushie. In a letter dated June 13, 2026, the General Council suspended and dismissed him as a pastor, citing his refusal to withdraw services from the UNICAL Chapel of Redemption. The Executive Committee expressed regret that "your ministry in the Unical Chapel of Redemption has left the Church of Christ in the University fragmented, rancorous and unspiritual, giving the court an unnecessary opportunity to intervene, thereby bringing a reproach to the name of our Holy God". The dismissal followed a series of directives issued from October 2025 onwards, urging Ushie to step down from the chapel as Chaplain.
Addressing the congregation after ordering the shutdown, DCP Etim said he had engaged all contending parties before taking action. "I have spoken to the two Reverends, and the two chaplains. I had also spoken to the members of the board of trustees, and they all agreed that the service should end because of the tension," he told the worshippers. The DCP warned that failure to intervene could lead to a physical confrontation between members of the rival groups. "You can see by yourself what has been going on here, so if we don't apply this strategy now, a fight might break out," he said. He directed everyone within the chapel and its environs to leave the premises, warning that after the chapel had been locked, anyone found inside would be treated as a trespasser and would face the law.
Following the intervention, Etim said calm had been restored and both factions had been summoned for dialogue. He directed the contending parties to report at the state police command on Diamond Hill Road, Calabar, by noon on Monday, August 10, for a meeting aimed at resolving the crisis. "We have invited both factions to our office tomorrow by 12 noon to enable us to rub minds with them, and to look at the issues raised and to see if there are solutions we can proffer to it," the DCP stated. The police intervention, however, has raised concerns over the impact of the leadership dispute on worshippers and the wider university community. The decision to deploy an armed tactical squad to halt a church service, while justified by the police on grounds of preventing bloodshed, has also sparked debate about the appropriate role of law enforcement in internal church disputes.
As the factions prepare to meet at the police command, the underlying questions remain unresolved. Who has the legitimate authority to lead the Chapel of Redemption? Can a court order and a church disciplinary action coexist, and which takes precedence? And what happens to the congregation caught in the crossfire of a battle that has now drawn in armed policemen, a federal court and the highest authorities of the Assemblies of God Nigeria? For now, the chapel stands locked, the worshippers dispersed, and the fate of one of Nigeria's most prominent university chapels hangs in the balance.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments