How Gunmen invaded Enugu Catholic Church, abducted seminarian, 2 others on Sunday morning
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have invaded a Catholic Church in Enugu state and abducted a seminarian and two other worshippers. One of the victims was, however, freed some moment later.
Witnesses told Premium Times that the incident occurred on Sunday morning at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Inoyi, in Affa, Udi local government area of the state.
The seminarian, it was gathered, had entered the church to conduct Sunday worship alongside some worshippers when the hoodlums invaded the church.
An indigene of the community, who identified himself simply as Christopher, said although three people were initially abducted, the attackers left with two people, including the seminarian.
“The kidnappers initially abducted the seminarian, catechist, and another person in the church.
“But after they moved with the victims for a few minutes, the kidnappers asked the catechist to go back and then entered the bush with the seminarian and the other worshipper,” Christopher narrated.
Based on interviews with residents and witnesses, Premium Times identified the abducted seminarian as Lawrence Chidera Igbo.
The other worshipper was simply identified as Emmanuel.
Premium Times could not immediately get a comment from the police on the incident as Daniel Ndukwe, the spokesman for the police command in Enugu, did not respond to calls and a text message from our reporter on Sunday afternoon.
Mr Ndukwu, a superintendent of police, later issued a statement on Sunday afternoon, claiming that the third victim was freed after a joint team of security operatives trailed the kidnappers.
“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,” he said.
He further said the joint security team comprised the police, the forest guard and members of the neighbourhood watch group in the community.
Mr Ndukwe said the Commissioner of Police in Enugu state, Bitrus Giwa, has ordered the Area Commander, Oji-River, and the Head of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit to further intensify ongoing operations to track the attackers and rescue the victims.