Armed tactical operatives on Sunday disrupted a church service at the Chapel of Redemption, located inside the University of Calabar (UNICAL) campus, to avert what authorities described as an imminent bloody clash over a lingering leadership tussle.

The heavy security deployment, led by the Cross River State Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Godwin Etim, triggered widespread panic as panicked worshippers fled the sanctuary for safety.

The operation followed an intelligence report warning of a potential outbreak of violence between two warring factions. Despite the heavy presence of security personnel, leaders of both groups openly continued to layout opposing claims to the leadership of the chapel.

Addressing the shaken congregation, DCP Etim explained that the aggressive intervention was a necessary preemptive strike to preserve human lives.

"My primary duty as a law enforcement officer is to protect lives and property," Etim stated. "Based on the intelligence gathered, allowing this service to proceed would have likely resulted in bloodshed right inside this house of God."

The DCP further disclosed that the decision to halt the liturgy was reached after brief, high-level consultations with key stakeholders on the ground.

"I have formally engaged the two contending Reverends, the two chaplains, and members of the Board of Trustees. They all conceded that stopping the service was the most viable option to defuse the escalating tension. The volatile atmosphere is clear to everyone here, and if we did not deploy this tactical strategy immediately, a physical fight would have broken out," he added.

The leadership crisis revolves around a bitter succession battle between the current Chaplain, Rev. Dr. Joseph Ushie, and Rev. Israel Eyo. The dispute is currently the subject of an ongoing lawsuit in court.

Meanwhile, the police command has issued an official ultimatum summoning all principal actors and factional leaders to a critical mediation meeting at the State Police Headquarters on Diamond Hill Road, Calabar, by 12:00 PM on Monday.