Three people were allegedly abducted during an attack at a church in Inoyi, Affa Community, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State on Sunday morning.
One victim, however, was reportedly rescued after a joint security team chased the gunmen, prompting police to expand the search for the two people still being held.
The operation involves police officers, Forest Guards and members of the Neighbourhood Watch, with additional intelligence and surveillance resources now in use to locate the victims and arrest the suspects.
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The rescue effort gained urgency after security operatives recovered one victim without injury during the pursuit.
Police have since widened the operation by deploying more personnel and technical resources to increase the chances of finding the remaining victims.
Security teams expand search after one victim rescued
Police sources indicated that the victims were believed to have been worshippers attending an early morning Sunday Mass when the attack happened.
The Enugu State Police Command confirmed that three people were abducted within the church premises in the early hours of Sunday, August 2, 2026.
Police Public Relations Officer Daniel Ndukwe said the joint security team pursued the fleeing gunmen immediately after the incident.
He explained that the pressure mounted by the operatives forced the suspects to abandon one of the captives, who was rescued unharmed, although the attackers escaped with the other two victims.
Ndukwe said the operation has continued without interruption as security personnel track the suspects. He noted that all available security resources within the area have been activated to support the rescue mission.
The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, directed the Area Commander in Oji River and the head of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit to intensify the ongoing operation.
Their assignment includes deploying every available operational resource to secure the safe release of the remaining victims and arrest those responsible for the abduction.
The police commissioner also instructed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Intelligence Department to generate actionable human and technical intelligence to support the operation.
He further ordered the activation of the surveillance and technical capabilities of the Enugu State Command and Control Centre to strengthen the search.
Police appealed to residents of Affa Community and neighbouring areas to stay calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and actionable information that could assist the operation.
The command said every available resource is being used to secure the release of the two victims and ensure the suspects face justice.
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