Panic erupted in Enugu State after unidentified gunmen stormed a Catholic church community and abducted a seminarian along with several other individuals during the attack.
According to information gathered, the assailants invaded the church premises unexpectedly, firing sporadically to intimidate residents before whisking away their victims to an unknown destination. The incident threw the church community into confusion as worshippers, staff, and nearby residents fled for safety.
Local sources disclosed that the victims were taken during the invasion, while those who escaped immediately alerted security agencies and community leaders. Security personnel have since launched efforts to track down the attackers and secure the safe release of the abducted persons.
The Catholic Church has expressed deep concern over the recurring attacks on religious institutions and innocent citizens, urging security agencies to intensify efforts to protect lives and places of worship. Church leaders also appealed to members of the public to remain calm and support ongoing rescue operations by providing any useful information that could assist investigators.
Residents of the affected community described the incident as frightening and called on the government to strengthen security across vulnerable areas to prevent similar occurrences. Many expressed concern over the growing insecurity in parts of the state, noting that criminal attacks have continued to disrupt normal life and instill fear among local communities.
Authorities have assured the public that investigations are ongoing and that every available resource is being deployed to rescue the victims unharmed and bring the perpetrators to justice.
As of the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of the abducted seminarian and the other victims remained unknown, while security operations continued across the surrounding areas.