Christians alarmed after Catholic church attacked in eastern Nigeria

Five members of the community, including a seminarian, a catechist and three worshippers, were taken captive, but according to social media reports they were released a week later.

Gunmen attacked a Catholic church in Eastern Nigeria during Sunday Mass on 2 August. According to residents, seven attackers armed with AK-47 rifles struck the Church of St Joseph in Inoyi, Affa community in Udi Local Government Area in Enugu State, despite heavy rainfall in the area. 

The incident sparked outrage in the community, with locals complaining that they were unable to rescue the victims because they were outgunned by the assailants. The residents said local youths attempted to pursue the kidnappers into the bush but were forced to retreat after coming under fire from the attackers. 

The aggrieved residents described how panic spread through the community when news of the abduction broke. 

“It was raining at our place when we were preparing for church when suddenly others ran to us and said that the seminarian who came to conduct Mass, our catechist, and others had been taken away,” one of the residents said. 

“As we were running helter-skelter, police came and asked us where it happened, and we showed them. Some youths went after them because those who came to inform us said the seven kidnappers were fully armed with AK-47s. There is no peace in our community – we live in fear, and now kidnappers come to church to kidnap us. We need help!” 

Five members of the community, including a seminarian, a catechist and three worshippers, were taken captive. Local Christians appealed directly to the governor to intervene, insisting that locals are prepared to confront the kidnappers if adequately equipped. 

“We searched within our limit without weapons, but they were shooting at us. So, we are pleading with Governor Peter Mbah to help us. What we are seeing and hearing everywhere else has come to our place,” they said. 

The residents also condemned the brazen nature of the attack, saying armed criminals have now extended their operations to places of worship. “Our security operatives are here, but there are no arms, and we cannot go after kidnappers armed with AK-47s empty-handed. Governor Peter Mbah, please do something for us.” 

The latest incident adds to concerns about rising insecurity in parts of Enugu State and the southeast region, where communities have repeatedly complained about attacks by armed kidnappers operating from surrounding forests despite security operations. 

On Sunday, there were reports online that the victims of the previous week’s attack had been released. Social media influencer Chijinkem Ugwuanyi made this claim in a social media statement on Sunday. 

Ugwuanyi said the victims were released from captivity following sustained efforts by security operatives and local authorities to track down the kidnappers. He commended Mbah for his intervention, saying the governor had given the kidnappers a “tough fight” since the abduction occurred. 

According to Ugwuanyi, the director of the Department of State Services in Enugu State, the governor’s aide-de-camp and the chairman of Udi Local Government Area, Ogbonnia Agu were part of the team that pursued the kidnappers. 

“To God be the glory. Those our brothers that were kidnapped in a Catholic church at Affa have been released from captivity,” Ugwuanyi wrote. He said the sustained pressure on the kidnappers eventually forced them to release the victims.

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