Police storms church in Enugu, Arrested Four Worshippers

Officers attached to the Enugu State police command, on Sunday stormed the Assemblies of God church located at No 27 Mount Street Agbani Road, Enugu with Armored Personnel Carrier and allegedly manhandled worshipers, a post by PUNCH reveals.

According to reports, the invasion was carried out by the Deputy Police Commissioner in charge of operations alongside three Divisional Police Officers of Ikirike, Uwani, and Awkunanaw stations.

It was unraveled that Assemblies of God have been experiencing a leadership crisis since 2014, in a case that is currently in court.

The latest from the court, the Federal High Court, Enugu, presided by Justice Dugbo-Oghoghorie, is that an order has been given directing parties to maintain status quo pending January 30 for the ruling of the case.

One of the worshippers, Osita Ike who was present as an eyewitness, described the action of the police as unlawful, inhumane, and without discretion.

He said, “I don’t know the cause of such embarrassment and inhumane treatment displayed by the Nigeria Police. They manhandled worshippers who came to worship God and arrested some members of the church.

“We were in the church on Sunday morning when a troop of heavily armed policemen came with an armored tank as if there was war and started beating and chasing people out of the church.

“Actually we are two factions. The service was going on. Some were at the back worshiping while the other faction were worshiping inside the church. I don’t know why they came because we have been worshiping like that since the crisis erupted in the church hierarchy.

“For the short period I joined them, about a year and six months now, one faction normally starts by 6:am and ends at 11:am, while the other group starts by 11 am and ends anytime of their choice.”

He said that after the church premises were locked, four members of the church were arrested and taken to the police headquarters