Security agencies in Enugu State have intensified efforts to track down armed men who reportedly invaded a church in Inoyi, Affa Community, Udi Local Government Area, and abducted three people on Sunday.
The joint security operation involves personnel from the police, Forest Guards and members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, on Sunday.
Ndukwe said the security team, while pursuing the fleeing attackers, forced them to abandon one of the victims, who was rescued safely.
He, however, confirmed that the assailants escaped with the remaining two victims.
The Police Commissioner in Enugu State, Mr Mamman Giwa, has directed the Area Commander, Oji-River, and the Head of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to intensify efforts aimed at rescuing the victims and arresting the suspects.
Ndukwe said the commissioner ordered the deployment of all available operational resources to ensure the safe recovery of the abducted persons and bring those responsible to justice.
He added that the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Intelligence Department (SID) had also been instructed to provide actionable human and technical intelligence to support the ongoing operation.
According to him, the command would activate the surveillance and technical resources of the Enugu State Command-and-Control Centre to strengthen the rescue mission.
“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.
Meanwhile, eyewitnesses reported that the gunmen attacked St Joseph Catholic Church, Inoyi, Affa, at about 8:30am, allegedly abducting a seminarian, a catechist and two other church members.
They added that police personnel and local security operatives responded shortly after receiving information about the attack.