The Anambra State Police Command has dismissed reports alleging that its personnel deployed to St. Faith Anglican Church, Awka, were taking sides in the ongoing dispute within the Anglican Church, describing such interpretations as misleading.
The Command warned that misrepresenting security interventions could heighten tensions and threaten peace within the religious community.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, made this clarification on Monday, October 19, 2026, stressing that police deployments were strictly intended to maintain law and order, protect lives and property, and prevent any breakdown of public peace.
Ikenga explained that the presence of security personnel at the church should not be interpreted as support for any faction or position in the ecclesiastical dispute.
He reaffirmed that the Nigeria Police Force remained a neutral institution committed to enforcing the law, protecting the rights of citizens, and ensuring that disagreements did not escalate into threats to public safety.
The police spokesperson urged media organisations, social media users, and other stakeholders to verify information before publishing or sharing reports concerning the situation.
He also called for restraint in public commentary, cautioning against the spread of narratives capable of inflaming tensions or deepening divisions within the Anglican community.
According to him, misleading accounts of police activities could worsen the sensitive situation, making responsible communication and respect for the rule of law essential.
The Command reassured residents of Anambra State that it would continue to carry out its constitutional duties professionally, impartially, and without fear or favour.
Ikenga further emphasised that the police would not allow any disagreement, whether religious or otherwise, to degenerate into a breach of public peace and security.
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