Police in Taraba State have confirmed the deaths of three individuals in a confrontation between worshippers of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria (UMCN) and the Global Methodist Church (GMC) in the state.
The police spokesperson, SP Usman Abdullahi, reported that the clash took place on Sunday in the Karim-Lamido Local Government Area, involving members of both churches.
According to Daily Trust, the violence marked the culmination of a long-standing dispute among church members, which had led the Taraba State Government to order the sealing of the UMCN headquarters in Jalingo.
SP Abdullahi further stated that six suspects have been arrested in connection with the unrest, and law enforcement, including both police and soldiers, has been deployed to prevent further escalation of the situation.
The underlying conflict stems from a protracted leadership dispute between the UMCN and the GMC, resulting in a factional split within the church.
