Heavy Security, Protest Greet Supervising Bishop’s Resumption at Awka Anglican Diocese

Supervising Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Awka, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor

By Our Correspondent

Heavy security presence and protests on Wednesday greeted the resumption of the Supervising Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Awka, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor, who was appointed by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, to oversee the affairs of the Diocese amid the lingering leadership crisis.

Before Ezeofor commenced his official duties at St. Faith’s Anglican Cathedral, Awka, security operatives were heavily deployed around the church and its environs, a development that created an atmosphere of tension and raised concerns among observers.

A correspondent who visited the cathedral observed the presence of security personnel drawn from the Anambra State Police Command, police operatives reportedly deployed from Abuja, and local security operatives of Agunechemba.

The security deployment was aimed at maintaining peace and order during the transition process and preventing any breakdown of law and order amid the protracted dispute over the leadership of the Diocese.

The development coincided with a meeting of the clergy and their wives, which Ezeofor presided over at the cathedral as part of his assumption of supervisory responsibilities following the directive of the Primate, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba.

The meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at noon, according to a notice signed by Ezeofor in his capacity as Supervising Bishop of the Diocese of Awka.

The notice was circulated by the Chairman of the Clergy Association of the Diocese, Venerable Dr. Geoffrey Muolokwu, and the Synod Secretary, Venerable Dr. Kingsley Chukwukanmma.

However, while the meeting was underway, a group of protesters gathered outside the cathedral gate, displaying placards whose inscriptions were not clearly discernible in videos circulating on social media.

Footage from the scene showed mostly middle-aged men assembled around the entrance, with some using their placards to cover their faces as they chanted songs promoting peace and love.

One of the chants conveyed the message that peace exists where love exists, although the protesters’ exact demands could not be independently established from the available footage.

The demonstration was reportedly against the suspension of the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of the Diocese of Awka, Most Rev. Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, and the appointment of Ezeofor to supervise the Diocese.

The protesters were, however, reportedly prevented from entering the cathedral premises and remained outside the gate, moving intermittently between the entrance and the Eke Awka Market area.

Security personnel had reportedly been deployed around the cathedral from the morning ahead of the meeting, reflecting heightened tension over the leadership dispute. Their presence remained conspicuous throughout the gathering and protest.

Ezeofor’s meeting with the clergy and their wives came days after the Primate directed Ibezim to proceed on six months’ compulsory leave and appointed the Bishop of Aguata Diocese to supervise the Diocese of Awka and coordinate the Province of the Niger during the period.

The directive has generated strong opposition from the Diocesan Board of the Diocese of Awka, which has rejected Ezeofor’s appointment and urged church members and other relevant organs to remain loyal to Ibezim, insisting that he should continue to discharge his duties as Bishop of Awka.

The Board has also maintained that court cases relating to the dispute remain pending.

It warned that the Diocese could withdraw from the Church of Nigeria if what it described as interference in its affairs continued.

The Chancellor of the Diocese, Sir E.B.I. Nwafor, SAN, and the Diocesan Board had earlier dismissed Ezeofor’s appointment, arguing that there was no provision for the office of a Supervising Bishop under the church’s established structure. They reaffirmed their loyalty to Archbishop Ibezim.

Wednesday’s protest has also triggered reactions on social media, with some users questioning the demonstration and alleging that the participants were sponsored or motivated by financial inducements.
These allegations, however, have not been independently verified.

The leadership crisis has been accompanied by a heightened security presence around the Diocese, with the Anambra State Police Command earlier assuring residents that additional personnel would be deployed to maintain peace and order.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, had stated that the Command was prepared to strengthen security arrangements in the area to prevent any breakdown of law and order.

“The presence of the security operatives is to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order at the Cathedral, and the Command has urged the warring factions to be law-abiding and not to take the laws into their hands,” Ikenga said.

He further stated that the Command had no support or sympathy for any of the factions, adding that it would not allow miscreants to exploit the situation to commit crimes.

Ikenga warned that the Police Command had zero tolerance for violence and illegality, urging all parties involved in the dispute to conduct themselves peacefully and within the bounds of the law.