In order to stop violence, the Cross River police have broken up a standoff during a Sunday worship at the Chapel of Redemption, University of Calabar (UNICAL).

The conflict began when Rev. Joseph Ushie, the chapel's chaplain, was conducting a service when the university caretaker committee and an interim chaplain designated by the vice-chancellor sought to seize control.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), attendees became confused as a result of the incident on Sunday, which led the police to halt the service.

In order to avoid a potential collapse of law and order, DCP Godwin Etim of the state command told reporters that he had ordered the cessation of the service.

“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 claimed that after speaking with the temporary chaplain, the chaplain, and a member of the church's board of trustees, they decided to halt the service in order to prevent a legal collapse.

He asked the parties to maintain composure and stated that the organisations were invited to a meeting at the command on Monday.

NAN remembers that the university's Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof. Offiong Offiong, and those working on his behalf were prohibited from interfering with the chapel's facilities and operations by a Federal High Court judgement in Port Harcourt.

Thru his attorney, Chief Mba Ukweni, SAN, the chapel's chaplain, Rev. Joseph Ushie, filed a lawsuit against the VC, the university's registrar, Dr. Chukwuka Icha, and three other parties.

In order to prevent the defendants from intimidating, threatening, or attacking him while he was exercising his freedom to worship at the chapel, the applicant, Ushie, requested a Motion Ex Parte.

Following his attorney's arguments, Justice Phoebe Ayua issued an injunction prohibiting the respondents or anybody working on their behalf from interfering with the chapel's operations.

Additionally, the order instructed the parties to preserve the status quo ante bellum until the substantive application was heard and decided on August 20.

Source