Gunmen Invade Enugu Catholic Church, Abduct Seminarian, Worshipper During Mass

Gunmen have reportedly attacked St. Joseph Catholic Church in Inoyi, Affa community, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, abducting a seminarian and at least one worshipper during a Sunday morning Mass.

The attack, which reportedly occurred while worshippers were attending church service, has thrown the community into panic and renewed concerns over insecurity in parts of Enugu State.

The incident was first disclosed by social media influencer Sen Chijinkem Ugwuanyi in a Facebook post on Sunday.

According to Ugwuanyi, the armed men stormed the church premises and forcefully abducted a seminarian who had come to officiate at the Mass, alongside a catechist and another worshipper.

He, however, said the kidnappers later released the catechist while taking the seminarian and the other victim into captivity.

Ugwuanyi disclosed that youths from the community immediately organised a search operation in nearby forests and bushes in an effort to locate the victims.

He noted that the search team was proceeding cautiously because the kidnappers were reportedly heavily armed and posed a significant threat to anyone attempting to confront them.

“The whole village is thrown into frenzy as the search continues,” he wrote, urging security agencies and the government to take urgent steps to address the worsening security situation in the area.

In a separate Facebook post, another resident shared a video purportedly recorded shortly after the attack, alleging that the incident occurred inside St. Joseph Catholic Church during worship.

The individual appealed to the Enugu State Government and security agencies to intervene promptly to secure the release of those abducted and restore confidence among residents.

The reported abduction comes amid growing concerns over attacks on religious institutions and communities in parts of the South-East, where kidnappings for ransom have continued despite ongoing security operations.

Residents have repeatedly called for increased security presence in vulnerable communities, particularly in rural areas where criminal gangs are believed to operate from surrounding forests.

As of the time of filing this report, the Enugu State Police Command had not issued an official statement confirming the attack or providing details on efforts to rescue the victims.

Security agencies are also yet to announce whether any arrests have been made in connection with the incident.