Police from the FCT Command reportedly fired tear gas to disperse worshippers at a church in Abuja on Sunday after a violent altercation erupted over the introduction of practices deemed foreign to Christian culture.
According to sources, the conflict began at the United Methodist Church in Durumi when members clashed over the parent church’s decision, which is based in the United States, to implement certain practices that the Abuja congregation found objectionable.
“The parent church in the US legalised some practices that are not part of our culture.
“Some elders kicked against it and demanded that the church in Nigeria should pull out, and give the church another name.
“Another set of elders kicked against the move. This created a faction in the church and this fight is the outcome,” a source said.
The disagreement centered on the imposition and legalization of these controversial practices, with some church elders strongly advocating for a split from the U.S. headquarters.
However, the presiding pastor, supported by another group of elders, opposed the breakup, insisting on maintaining ties with the parent church. This disagreement escalated into a physical altercation during the service.
The situation became tense when the pastor announced plans to take legal action against those pushing for a split, vowing to keep the church aligned with its U.S. headquarters.
This declaration triggered heated arguments, causing the service to end abruptly as fighting broke out among the congregants. The police were then called in to control the situation.
According to the Vanguard, eyewitnesses reported that upon arriving at the scene, police officers attempted to calm the situation but resorted to using tear gas when the violence escalated.
Several elders were taken into custody as the police began an investigation into the incident.
The FCT Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the event.
She mentioned that the Command’s Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, had summoned all the church elders involved in the conflict to the Command for further discussions.
