At least six persons, including four Anglican priests, were on Friday beaten to stupor by some members a task-force working with the Enugu State Housing Corporation, reports have said.
The victims were Reverends Collins Odoabuchi, Mbaka Peter, Eugene, and Maxwell Onyia. Other members of the church affected were Ekpecha Okechukwu and Naomi Ibekwe.
Trouble reportedly started when members of the task force, accompanied by armed policemen, invaded a parcel of land belonging to the Christ Church, Uwani, Anglican Communion, sparking off anger from both clergymen and members of the church.
The Clerics were said to have tried to stop the Task force from carrying out the demolition exercise but were overpowered by the government agents.
One of the victims, who gave her name as Naomi Ibekwe told journalists that she was hit with iron and hard objects, including stones, causing bruises and severe injuries on her.
However, State Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Abubakar Adamu, who was at the scene of the incident quelled the tension.
In his reaction, Adamu urged the angry church leaders and their followers to allow peace to reign as negotiation had begun.
“We have discussed with the church. If anybody is injured, we will not take it lightly. We have already asked that a formal report be made and we will follow it up. We have agreed on a peace move and we are following it up,” he stated.
Also reacting, the priest in charge of the Christ Church, Venerable N. Aghadi said, “We have talked at length and discussed very progressively.
“The Commissioner of Police is pleading that we should go home and rest. He has promised that the matter is in good hand and that immediately the Archbishop returns, he will have meeting with him”.