Security operatives pursuing the fleeing suspects forced them to abandon one of the victims, who was rescued unharmed. The assailants, however, escaped with two other victims
By Moses Okorie
A joint security team in Enugu State has intensified efforts to rescue two persons abducted by suspected armed men during an attack on St. Joseph Catholic Church in Inoyi, Affa Community, Udi Local Government Area.
The security team, comprising police operatives, Forest Guards and members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, launched a coordinated operation shortly after the incident, which occurred during church activities on Sunday.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Daniel Ndukwe.
According to Ndukwe, security operatives pursuing the fleeing suspects forced them to abandon one of the victims, who was rescued unharmed. The assailants, however, escaped with two other victims.
He said the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mamman Giwa, had directed the Area Commander in Oji River and the head of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to intensify ongoing operations and deploy all available resources to secure the victims’ release and arrest those responsible.
The police commissioner also instructed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Intelligence Department (SID) to generate actionable human and technical intelligence to support the rescue mission.
Ndukwe added that the command had activated the surveillance and technical capabilities of the Enugu State Command-and-Control Centre to strengthen the ongoing operation.
He appealed to residents of the community to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and timely information that could assist the investigation.
“The command assures residents that every available operational and intelligence resource is being deployed to ensure the safe rescue of the remaining victims and the arrest of the perpetrators,” he said.
He urged members of the public to report useful information through the command’s emergency lines: 08032003702, 08086671202, 112, 09134666668 and 09134448093, or via email at pproenugu@npf.gov.ng.
Meanwhile, eyewitnesses said the gunmen invaded St. Joseph Catholic Church, Inoyi, at about 8:30 a.m. on Sunday and abducted a seminarian, the church catechist and two other worshippers.
According to the witnesses, police officers and local security personnel responded promptly after receiving a distress call, leading to the rescue of one of the victims while efforts continue to secure the freedom of the remaining abductees.