AFRICA/NIGERIA – Church attacked during Sunday Mass, two people still held by kidnappers

Abuja – St. Joseph’s Church in Inoyi, Affa, in Udi district of Enugu State, southeastern Nigeria, was attacked during Sunday Mass on August 2. At least seven armed men stormed the church at around 8:30 a.m., interrupting the liturgical celebration.
The attackers abducted at least three people—a seminarian, a catechist and a parishioner—before fleeing into a nearby forest.
The assault, which took place as heavy rain lashed the area, threw the local community into panic, with terrified worshippers fleeing the church in search of safety.
Some parishioners tried to chase the attackers but abandoned the effort after realizing the assailants were heavily armed and in no way wanted to endanger the lives of the hostages.
Police launched a search operation which, according to authorities, enabled one of the abductees to escape and return home. The escaped hostage was the catechist, while the seminarian, identified as Lawrence Chidera Igbo, and the lay faithful, identified only by his first name, Emmanuel, remain in the hands of their kidnappers.

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