A joint security team in Enugu State has rescued one of three persons abducted by armed men during an attack on a church in Affa Community, Udi Local Government Area, while intensifying operations to secure the release of the two remaining victims.
The Enugu State Police Command, in a statement issued on Sunday, August 2, 2026, by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said the abduction occurred in the early hours of the day within the premises of a church at Inoyi in Affa Community.
According to the statement, the rescue followed a swift operation by a joint security team comprising police operatives, Forest Guards and members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, who pursued the fleeing attackers and forced them to abandon one of the captives.
“The operatives, while closing in on the fleeing suspects, forced them to abandon one of the victims, who was immediately rescued unhurt. The assailants, however, escaped with the remaining two victims,” Ndukwe stated.
The statement said the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has ordered an aggressive manhunt for the abductors and directed security operatives to deploy every available resource to ensure the safe rescue of the remaining victims.
According to the police spokesperson, the Commissioner directed the Area Commander, Oji River Area Command, and the Head of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to intensify ongoing operations aimed at rescuing the victims and arresting the suspects.
Ndukwe added that the police boss also instructed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Intelligence Department (SID) to immediately generate actionable human and technical intelligence to support the operation.
He further disclosed that the surveillance and technical capabilities of the Enugu State Command-and-Control Centre had been activated to strengthen the ongoing rescue mission.
The Commissioner appealed to residents of Affa Community and surrounding areas to remain calm and continue to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and timely information that could assist ongoing operations.
“He urges residents of the community to remain calm and continue to support the Police with credible and actionable information, assuring them that every available resource is being deployed to secure the safe rescue of the remaining victims and bring the perpetrators to justice,” the statement said.
The command urged anyone with useful information that could aid the rescue operation or lead to the arrest of the fleeing suspects to immediately contact the police through the emergency lines 08032003702, 08086671202, 112, 09134666668, or 09134448093, or send an email to [email protected].
Police said all information received would be treated with utmost confidentiality as efforts continue to secure the safe release of the remaining victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
