The [Anambra State Police Command](https://anambra.police.ng) dispatched a sizable police presence to St. Faith’s Anglican Cathedral in Awka on Sunday as the suspended [Archbishop Alexander Ibezim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Ibezim) led a worship service, emphasizing that the deployment was solely to preserve law and order and avert any disturbance.
Key facts:
- Ibezim, who also serves as Bishop of the Awka Diocese, was placed on a six‑month leave by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, [Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Ndukuba), pending investigations into allegations against him.
- The Primate barred Ibezim from officiating any activity of the Church of Nigeria, the Province of the Niger, or the Awka Diocese for the duration of the leave.
- The Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor, was appointed to oversee the Diocese of Awka and the Archdiocese on the Niger during Ibezim’s suspension.
- The Diocese of Awka’s board rejected the suspension and warned it might exit the Church of Nigeria to join the Church of England if the decision is enforced.
- Police Public Relations Officer SP Tochukwu Ikenga warned that reports portraying the police deployment as partisan were misleading, stressing the force’s neutrality.
"The Command wishes to clarify that the deployment of police personnel to any location is guided by the need to maintain law and order, prevent a breakdown of peace, protect lives and property, and ensure the safety of all concerned, irrespective of their affiliations or positions in the dispute," Ikenga said.
**Why was the police presence deemed necessary?**
The police explained that heightened tensions surrounding the ecclesiastical dispute could potentially spill over into public unrest. Their mandate, according to Ikenga, is to act impartially, safeguarding citizens’ rights while preventing any religious disagreement from escalating into a threat to public peace and security.
**What stance did the police take on the controversy?**
Ikenga reiterated that the Nigeria Police Force remains a neutral institution and that its presence should not be interpreted as support for any faction within the church conflict. He urged the public to avoid circulating narratives that could inflame tensions or deepen divisions within the religious community.
The command affirmed it will continue to fulfil its constitutional duties professionally and without fear or favour, ensuring that no religious or other disagreement devolves into a breach of public order.
**Background**
The suspension of Archbishop Ibezim follows accusations that prompted the Primate to order a six‑month leave while investigations proceed. The Diocese of Awka’s board’s threat to leave the Church of Nigeria underscores the depth of the dispute, prompting heightened security measures to pre‑empt any possible public disorder during the contested service.