A joint security team in Enugu State has intensified efforts to rescue two worshippers abducted by gunmen during an attack on St. Joseph Catholic Church in Inoyi, Affa Community, Udi Local Government Area, on Sunday.

The security team, comprising police operatives, Forest Guards and members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, has also launched a manhunt for the fleeing attackers.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed in a statement that security operatives pursued the gunmen shortly after the incident, forcing them to abandon one of the abducted victims, who was rescued unharmed.

He said the assailants, however, escaped with two other victims.

According to Ndukwe, the Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, has directed the Area Commander in Oji River and the head of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to intensify ongoing rescue operations.

He said the police commissioner ordered the deployment of all available operational assets to ensure the safe rescue of the remaining victims and the arrest of the suspects.

Giwa also directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Intelligence Department (SID) to generate actionable human and technical intelligence to support the operation.

Ndukwe added that the command had activated the surveillance and technical capabilities 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 assures them that every available resource is being deployed to secure the safe rescue of the remaining victims and bring the perpetrators to justice,” he said.

The police urged members of the public with useful information to contact the command through its emergency lines or official email.

Meanwhile, eyewitnesses said the gunmen invaded St. Joseph Catholic Church, Inoyi, at about 8:30 a.m. during worship and abducted a seminarian, the church catechist and two other members of the congregation.

According to the witnesses, police officers and local security personnel responded promptly after receiving a distress call.

However, while one of the abductees was rescued during the pursuit, the whereabouts of the remaining two victims were yet to be confirmed as of the time of filing this report.