The Commanding Officer of the 3 Battalion, Nigerian Army, David Ejoor Barracks, Effurun, Delta State, Lt Col. Igwe Omoke has been accused of taking sides in the crisis rocking the Glory House Parish of the Assemblies of God Church in the Effurun area of the state, after reports emerged that he personally led the military men who invaded and shutdown the church. It had been reported that the Military Officer had on Sunday, ordered military invasion of the said parish on Otti Street, Effurun. The Nation reports that “eyewitness accounts and photographs of the military invasion revealed that the army officer was at the scene and directed the disruption of worship, because of his sympathy for Rev. Chidi Okoroafor’s faction in the crisis.”
A female member of the church, who didn’t want her name mentioned, said “On the morning of the attack, the Commanding Officer (Omoke) came with the troops.
“He was dressed in white native attire and he wore sunglasses. He had earlier visited the church and made inquiries from neighbours on the whereabouts of the pastor of the church (Pastor Omole).
“The soldiers who came that Sunday told us we had 10 minutes to round up whatever we were doing and shut down the church and we could not argue with them because they were armed and had removed their name tags and the number plates from the two vans they came with, which were fitted with heavy guns, maybe machine guns.
“The soldiers were very menacing. We were doing our Sunday school, but we could not complete it because the soldier was counting down: ‘eight minutes, five minutes and so on,” she added.
When contacted, the army officer had said he was not aware of what was being asked.
Omoke allegedly denied knowledge of the military operation at the church.
However, the Army officer has reportedly opened up.
According to him, he took the action following a petition, three days before the invasion, dated 11th February.
The petition claimed that the church leadership was disobeying court order and there was a threat to peace in the area.
“To avert further crisis,” Omoke said, “I told my men to conduct patrol along the area and ensure that what had happened last two weeks did not occur again.
“So for any person to say I am taking side is unfortunate, I have sacrificed my time to ensure there is peace in Warri,” he was reported to have stated.
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