Armed assailants storm Enugu place of worship amid heightened efforts by law enforcement to free kidnapped captives

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A joint security team in Enugu State has intensified the trail of armed men alleged to have abducted three persons in a church at Inoyi, Affa Community in Udi Local Government Area on Sunday.

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The joint security team comprised police operatives, Forest Guards, and members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group.

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This is contained in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, on Sunday in Enugu.

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Ndukwe said that the operatives, while closing in on the fleeing suspects, forced them to abandon one of the victims, who was rescued unhurt.

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According to him, the assailants, however, escaped with the remaining two victims.

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Ndukwe said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Mamman Giwa, had directed the Area Commander, Oji-River, and the Head of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to further intensify ongoing operations.

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The police commissioner directed them to deploy all available operational assets to ensure the safe rescue of the remaining victims and the apprehension of the suspects.

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He said that the commissioner also directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of the State Intelligence Department (SID) to immediately generate actionable human and technical intelligence in support of the operation.

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Ndukwe said the command would activate the surveillance and technical capabilities of the Enugu State Command-and-Control Centre to bolster the ongoing rescue efforts.

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“The commissioner urges residents of the community to remain calm and continue to support the police with credible and actionable information.

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“The command is assuring them that every available resource is being deployed to secure the safe rescue of the remaining victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.

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“Such information can be reported through the following emergency lines: 08032003702, 08086671202, 112, 09134666668, or 09134448093, or via email at [email protected],” he said.

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Meanwhile, some eyewitnesses said that the gunmen stormed the St Joseph Catholic Church, Inoyi, Affa around 8.30am and abducted a seminarian, the catechist and two other members of the church.

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They said that the police and local security agencies came as soon as they were alerted.

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