Gunmen invaded St. Joseph Catholic Church in Inoyi, Affa Community, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, on Sunday, August 2, kidnapping a visiting seminarian and at least one worshipper during morning Mass. The attack occurred while worshippers were preparing for service, with eyewitnesses reporting that seven armed men, carrying AK-47 rifles, stormed the church and took the victims into the bush. A catechist was also abducted but later released by the attackers.
Social media influencer Sen Chijinkem Ugwuanyi disclosed the incident in a Facebook post, stating that youths from the community had gone into the bush to search for the victims. A resident shared a video from the scene, describing heavy rainfall earlier that morning and confirming that police were alerted and visited the site. The Enugu State Police Command has not issued an official statement on the matter.
The abduction in Enugu follows a similar incident in Benue State, where a seminarian, Kelvin Ochai, was reportedly taken from the residence of the Catholic Bishop of Otukpo on Thursday, August 1. The Chancellor of the Otukpo Diocese, Joseph Itodo, confirmed the incident in a statement, saying Bishop Michael Apochi has called for prayers for the seminarian's safe return. However, the Benue State Police Command said it is treating the case as a missing person's report, noting that the seminarian was last seen going to bathe and has not been formally confirmed as kidnapped. Police also stated that an earlier alleged attempted abduction at the bishop's residence two weeks prior was never officially reported.
The police in Benue describe the seminarian's disappearance as a missing person case despite the diocese confirming an abduction, creating conflicting narratives about the incident. This discrepancy affects how urgently the case is treated and whether families receive appropriate support during the search.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion. All persons mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Full disclaimer →
