Fear and anxiety gripped residents of Affa community in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State after heavily armed gunmen invaded St. Joseph Catholic Church, Inoyi, during Sunday worship and abducted a seminarian alongside a worshipper.
The attackers reportedly struck while worshippers were gathering for Mass. According to eyewitnesses, the seminarian had entered the church to begin preparations for the service when the armed men stormed the premises and seized three people. Those initially abducted were the seminarian, a catechist, and another worshipper.
Residents said the kidnappers later released the catechist after moving the captives a short distance before disappearing into a nearby forest with the remaining two victims.
The abducted seminarian has been identified as Lawrence Chidera Igbo, while the other victim was identified simply as Emmanuel.
Witnesses described the incident as terrifying, saying rain was falling when the attack occurred. A resident who spoke shortly after the incident said members of the community immediately alerted security personnel and joined them in searching the surrounding bushes in an attempt to rescue the victims.
According to the eyewitness, the kidnappers were about seven in number and were armed with AK 47 rifles. He said community members had to retreat after the gunmen opened fire because they had no weapons to defend themselves.
Other residents expressed frustration over the increasing wave of kidnappings in the area, insisting that local youths and vigilante members were willing to help secure the community but lacked the equipment needed to confront heavily armed criminals. They appealed to Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah to strengthen security in the area and provide support for community based security efforts.
The Enugu State Police Command later confirmed the attack, revealing that a joint security team made up of police officers, forest guards, and members of the neighbourhood watch swiftly launched a rescue operation. According to the command, security operatives pursued the fleeing kidnappers, forcing them to abandon one of the captives, who was rescued unharmed. However, the attackers escaped with the seminarian and the second victim.
The Commissioner of Police, Bitrus Giwa, has directed the Area Commander in Oji River and the Command Violent Crime Response Unit to intensify operations aimed at tracking down the suspects and rescuing the remaining victims. The police also disclosed that surveillance assets and technical intelligence are being deployed to support the ongoing operation while urging residents to provide credible information that could assist investigators.
This latest attack adds to the growing concerns over the worsening security situation across Nigeria, where places of worship, schools, highways, and rural communities have increasingly become targets for kidnappers and armed gangs. Many Nigerians now fear that nowhere is truly safe as criminal groups continue to operate with alarming boldness. The incident has renewed calls for stronger intelligence gathering, improved community policing, and decisive action by security agencies to restore public confidence and protect lives across the country.
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