Police shut Enugu church as pastors, supporters engage in free-for-all

Enugu—It was a show of shame, yesterday, in Enugu as two
pastors and their loyalists engaged themselves in fisticuffs
at Mount Street Parish of Assemblies of God Church,
Nigeria.
Consequently, police was compelled to lock up the church
premises.
Vanguard gathered that the church was turned into a battle
field, yesterday morning, as two pastors and their
supporters fought over who should take control of the
parish.
Crisis of factionalisation of the Assemblies of God Church
had been lingering for more than three years as two
persons, Professor Paul Emeka and Dr. Chidi Okoroafor, are
each laying claims to the leadership of the church, a
position known as General Superintendent, a matter that is
currently before the Supreme Court.
The drama started when one of the pastors, Rev. Nathaniel
Udeze, came with letters of posting and other court
documents as part of preparations to be installed as the new
pastor at the parish.
He was promptly resisted upon arrival with his team of
supporters.
Leading the opposition was current resident pastor of the
parish, Reverend Amaechi Agbo, who along with his
supporters, also vowed not to allow Pastor Udeze take over,
accusing him of being an “intruder.”
The incoming pastor Udeze, said to have been very furious,
insisted that he had been officially posted there by the
leadership of the church under Rev. Paul Emeka.
He also insisted that Rev. Agbo had been transferred to
another parish since May 2015.
Howver, Rev Agbo disagreed, insisting that he was still in-
charge of the parish as he was yet to be formally written by
Rev. Okoroafor’s leadership of the church, which he
recognised.
Factional Sunday School
Trouble started as early as 7a.m., when supporters of both
pastors arrived and started sharing different versions of
Sunday school manual in preparation for the main service.
When the factional pastors arrived, the situation broke down
completely as the pastors started shoving each other and
shortly afterwards, members of the two factions engaged in
fisticuffs.
Divisional Police Officer, Dennis Ayara, who later arrived the
scene, made frantic efforts to bring the situation under
control through negotiation, but to no avail.
The police, therefore, cordoned off the church and put it
under lock, while the leaders of the two factions were asked
to report to the station.

By Austin Ogwuda
Vanguard news.