Enugu State security forces release kidnapped church victims

A Catholic seminarian and other worshippers abducted during a service at St. Joseph Catholic Church in the Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State have been released. The victims, including seminarian Lawrence Igbo and Emmanuel Onwudi, were taken by gunmen during an attack on August 2.

Security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, and the Police, conducted a joint operation that resulted in the arrest of three suspects. During the encounter, one suspected kidnapper was killed in a gun battle, and authorities recovered four AK-47 rifles and ammunition.

The victims reportedly identified the arrested suspects as their abductors. Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah visited the DSS headquarters to inspect the suspects, with the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, affirming that the state would continue to deploy its security architecture to combat criminality.