- Safiu Kehinde
Suspected gunmen have attacked St. Joseph Catholic Church at Inoyi, Affa Community in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu state, abducting three people.
The gunmen reportedly stormed the church on Sunday around 8.30am and initially abducted a seminarian, the catechist and two other members of the church.
However, the operatives of the Enugu State Police Command and local security agencies came as soon as they were alerted.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe on Sunday, the joint security team had intensified trail of armed men.
The joint security team comprised police operatives, Forest Guards, and members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group.
Ndukwe said that the operatives, while closing in on the fleeing suspects, forced them to abandon one of the victims, who was rescued unhurt.
According to him, the assailants, however, escaped with the remaining victims.
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.
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.
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.
Ndukwe said that the command would be activating the surveillance and technical capabilities of the Enugu State Command-and-Control Centre to bolster the ongoing rescue efforts.
“The commissioner urges residents of the community to remain calm and continue to support the police with credible and actionable information.
“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.
“Such information can be reported through the following emergency lines: 08032003702, 08086671202, 112, 09134666668, or 09134448093, or via email at pproenugu@npf.gov.ng,” he said.