The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed that armed men invaded a Catholic church in Udi Local Government Area of the state and abducted worshippers during an early morning service.
Police authorities said one of the victims has been rescued, while security operatives have intensified efforts to secure the release of the two others still being held by the kidnappers.
The incident occurred at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Inoyi, Affa Community, where the gunmen reportedly entered the church premises and forcefully took three people before escaping into a nearby forest.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, the command said a joint security team comprising police operatives, Forest Guards and members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group immediately launched a rescue operation.
According to the statement, the security team pursued the fleeing kidnappers, forcing them to abandon one of the victims, who was rescued unharmed, while the attackers escaped with the remaining two abductees.
“A joint security team comprising Police operatives, Forest Guards, and members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group has intensified operations and is on the trail of armed men alleged to have abducted three persons within the precinct of a church at Inoyi, Affa Community, Udi Local Government Area, in the early hours of today, August 2, 2026,” Ndukwe said.
He added, “The operatives, while closing in on the fleeing suspects, forced them to abandon one of the victims, who was immediately rescued unhurt. The assailants, however, escaped with the remaining two victims.”
Before the police statement, reports circulating on social media claimed the attackers invaded the church during Mass and abducted a seminarian, a catechist and another worshipper.
A Facebook post by social media influencer Sen Chijinkem Ugwuanyi alleged that the seminarian had arrived at the church to celebrate Mass when the gunmen struck. He further claimed that the catechist was later released, while the seminarian and another worshipper remained in captivity.
The police, however, did not disclose the identities of the victims but confirmed that three people were abducted and one has since been rescued.
The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has ordered an intensified manhunt for the suspects and directed tactical commanders to deploy all available operational resources to rescue the remaining victims.
According to the statement, the commissioner instructed the Area Commander in Oji River and the Head of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to strengthen ongoing operations and ensure those responsible are arrested.
He also directed the State Intelligence Department to generate actionable intelligence while activating the surveillance and technical resources of the Enugu State Command-and-Control Centre to support the rescue operation.
The police appealed to residents to remain calm and provide useful information that could assist security agencies in locating the kidnappers and rescuing the remaining victims.
The latest attack has renewed concerns over the growing wave of kidnappings in parts of Enugu State, with residents expressing fears over the increasing targeting of places of worship and other public locations by criminal gangs.
