Panic gripped worshippers at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Inoyi, Affa, in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State on Sunday after suspected armed kidnappers reportedly invaded the church premises and abducted a seminarian and several other worshippers.
The attack, which residents said occurred as parishioners gathered for Mass amid a downpour, threw the community into confusion as frightened worshippers fled for safety.
In a video circulating online, residents alleged that the attackers, believed to be at least seven in number, stormed the church and whisked away several worshippers, including a seminarian.
According to the residents, those who were on their way to the church encountered worshippers running out of the premises and raising the alarm over the attack.
The villagers said they immediately mobilised and pursued the kidnappers into the surrounding area but were unable to confront them because the gunmen were heavily armed, while members of the community had no weapons.
“We are ready to defend our community and even go into the bush after these criminals, but how do we do that without arms?” one resident said in the video.
The residents also lamented that members of the local vigilante group lacked the weapons needed to confront armed criminals.
They appealed to the government and security agencies to urgently strengthen security in the area, saying their communities have become increasingly vulnerable to attacks.
According to the residents, one of the victims had reportedly returned home to bury his late father before he was abducted during the attack on the church.
As of the time of filing this report, the Enugu State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
