The Enugu church attack unfolded after gunmen reportedly stormed St. Joseph Catholic Church, Inoyi, in Affa, Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State, kidnapping a seminarian and at least one worshipper during a Sunday morning church service.
Sen Chijinkem Ugwuanyi, a renowned social media influencer, revealed the incident in a Facebook post, claiming that attackers raided the church and seized a seminarian who had come to celebrate Mass, a catechist, and another worshipper.
According to him, the kidnappers later freed the catechist but held the seminarian and the other victim into captivity.
Ugwuanyi stated that local teenagers had initiated a search operation in surrounding bushes, but they were proceeding cautiously due to the kidnappers’ reported superior weapons.
“The whole village is thrown into frenzy as the search continues,” he wrote, while also calling on the government to intensify efforts to tackle rising insecurity in the area.
In a separate Facebook post, another user published a video reportedly from the scene of the Enugu church attack, stating that kidnappers stormed St. Joseph Catholic Church in Inoyi, Affa, and urging the Enugu State Government to intervene.
As of the time of this report, the Enugu State Police Command has not issued an official statement regarding the incident.
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Backstory…
The latest incident adds to a growing wave of attacks targeting churches, clergy and worshippers across Nigeria, in the South-East, North-Central and parts of the North-West.
In recent months, gunmen have repeatedly abducted Catholic priests, seminarians and other church workers for ransom, while several churches have also come under attack during religious activities.
The recurring incidents have heightened fears among Christian communities and renewed calls for stronger security around places of worship.
Meanwhile this incident comes barely twenty four hours after seminarian, Kelvin Ochai, who was kidnapped by armed men in Asa III, Otukpo, on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, regained his freedom.
The Catholic Diocese of Otukpo in Benue State confirmed his escape on Saturday August 1.
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