Operatives of Enugu State Police Command, on Sunday, reportedly invaded a parish of Assemblies of God Church in Enugu State, disrupting ongoing service and chasing out worshippers.

The policemen were alleged to have manhandled worshipers after storming the church located at 27 Mount Street, Agbani Road, Enugu with Armored Personnel Carrier (APC).

The invasion of the church which was led by Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of operation with three Divisional Police Officers of Kiriki, Uwani and Awkunanaw stations.

It was gathered that after the invasion, some members of the church were arrested and the church premises which also had a school were shut.

The Assemblies of God Church had been enmeshed in a leadership crisis since 2014. Since then the crisis had been under litigation.

Recently, the Federal High Court, Enugu, presided by Justice Dugbo-Oghoghorie gave an order directing parties to maintain status quo.

The Punch reports that the Court had fixed January 30 for ruling on the case.

However, one of the worshipers, Osita Ike, who claimed he was manhandled by the policemen, described the action of the police as unlawful, desecration of the church and inhumane.

He said,

“I don’t know the cause of such embarrassment and inhuman treatment displayed by the Nigeria Police. They manhandled the worshipers who came to worship God and arrested some members of the church.

“We were in the church on Sunday morning when a troop of heavily armed policemen came with armored tank as if there is war and started beating and chasing people out of the church.”

Ike added,

“Actually we are into two factions. The service was going on. Some were at the back worshiping while the other faction was worshiping inside the church. I don’t know why they came because we had been worshiping like that since the crisis erupted in the church hierarchy.

“For the short period I joined them, about a year and six months now, one faction normally starts by 6:am and ends at 11:am, while the other group starts by 11 am and ends any time of their choice.”

He said that after the church premises were padlocked, four members of the church were arrested and taken to the police headquarters.

At the time of filing this report, it is not clear whether those arrested on Sunday had been released.

When contacted on telephone the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, declined comment.

Amaraizu, a Superintendent of Police, simply told our correspondent “let me find out what happened” and switched off his phone.