As Peace Process Commences
By Okey Maduforo Awka
As the peace and conflict resolution processes commences, the Anàmbra Police Commend has come into the face off urging both parties not to compromise the settlement by making inflammatory and provocative comments .
The Command also stated that it would continue to maintain peace, law and order in the Diocese in a bid towards ensuring that live and property are protected .
According to the statement by the Police Public Relations Officer SP Tochukwu Ikenga the two parties were at the Command at the instance of the Commissioner of Police Nnanna Oji Ama.
During the meeting, the Commissioner acknowledged the ongoing court proceedings relating to the matter and emphasised the importance of respecting the judicial process.
He urged the parties to pursue peaceful dialogue and explore appropriate channels within the church’s established ecclesiastical hierarchy to resolve their differences, without prejudice to the ongoing court proceedings.
The CP stressed that parishioners and worshippers must not be drawn into the disagreement or made to suffer the consequences of differences among church leaders.
He called on all concerned to demonstrate restraint, mutual respect, and maturity in the interest of peace, unity, and the sanctity of worship.
He further cautioned against inflammatory statements, confrontational conduct, and any action capable of escalating tensions or threatening public peace.
He warned that the Command would not hesitate to take appropriate lawful measures to prevent any breach of law and order.
Reassuring the parties of the Command’s impartiality, the Commissioner affirmed that the Police would continue to discharge their responsibilities professionally, address legitimate security concerns, respect the authority of the court, and uphold the rights of all parties in accordance with the law.
The Anambra State Police Command therefore calls on church leaders, parishioners, and other stakeholders to cooperate with ongoing peace efforts, respect due process, and refrain from any conduct capable of escalating the dispute into a security challenge.
