Crisis is brewing between parishioners of the Guardian Angel Catholic Church and the Delta State Police Command.
The parishioners are angry that the command has marked their N17 million church building for demolition.
The controversial land, situated within the premises of the police headquarters in Asaba, was approved for the church building by the outgone Commissioner of Police in the state, Ayo Ikechukwu Aduba (rtd.)
But his successor, CP Baba Alkali Usman, said his predecessor acted in error by approving such place for them.
Usman has therefore ordered his men to seal up the church, warning its congregation to steer clear of the area but seek alternative worship centre
The order has since ignited crisis, making the congregation to think that the CP has come with fundamentalists sentiments.
The chaplain (Parish-Priest), Rev. Fr. Pius Onwegbuzie, could not be reached for comments, but stern looking policemen have since taken over the Church building.
While the parishioners have called on the state government to quickly intervene, the Chairman of the Catholic Women Organization, Atinor Ovberedjor, wondered what has become of the fate of the N17 million already spent on the construction.
Ovberedjor said: “Although the Church is still under construction, already over N17 million raised through offerings and donations have been expended.
“We applied for the place and it was duly given to us before we committed millions of naira to the project.
“So let somebody speak up on who to refund the money.”
Ovberedjor lamented the wasted efforts and resources by the parishioners and donations from well-wishers who supported the laudable project through cheques and cash lodgement.
While she called on the state government to wade into the matter before it escalated into crisis, another chairperson in the church who happens to be a top ranking policeman, under anonymity, appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, to immediately arbitrate on the issue.
Confirming this development on Monday in Asaba, the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Celetina Kalu, said the church council was aware of the new development.
“They were communicated before now that the site of the Church was approved in error during the time of CP Ikechukwu Aduba, so the command is only trying to rectify it now,” Kalu said.
She explained that the command has not stopped Christians from worshipping in the state headquarters, maintaining: “After all there is a general church within the premises where Christians do worship.”