A joint security team in Enugu State has rescued one of three persons abducted by suspected armed men from a church in Affa Community, Udi Local Government Area, while security agencies have intensified efforts to secure the release of the remaining two victims.

The Enugu State Police Command disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe.

According to the statement, the victims were abducted in the early hours of Sunday, August 2, 2026, within the premises of a church at Inoyi in Affa Community.

The command said a joint team comprising police operatives, forest guards, and members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group immediately launched a rescue operation and pursued the fleeing suspects.

The operation led to the rescue of one of the victims after the suspected abductors abandoned the person while trying to escape.

“A joint security team comprising Police operatives, Forest Guards, and members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group has intensified operations and is on the trail of armed men alleged to have abduct three persons within the precinct of a church at Inoyi, Affa Community, Udi Local Government Area, in the early hours of today, August 2, 2026.

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“The operatives, while closing in on the fleeing suspects, forced them to abandon one of the victims, who was immediately rescued unhurt. The assailants, however, escaped with the remaining two victims,” the statement said.

The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, ordered the Area Commander, Oji-River, and the Head of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit to intensify ongoing operations and deploy all available operational assets to rescue the remaining victims and apprehend the suspects.

The commissioner also directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Intelligence Department to generate actionable human and technical intelligence to support the operation.

In addition, he ordered the activation of the surveillance and technical capabilities of the Enugu State Command-and-Control Centre to strengthen the ongoing rescue efforts.

Giwa urged residents of Affa Community and neighbouring communities to remain calm and continue supporting the police with credible and actionable information.

He assured the public that every available resource was being deployed to ensure the safe rescue of the remaining victims and bring those responsible for the abduction to justice.

The command urged anyone with useful information to contact the police through the emergency lines 08032003702, 08086671202, 112, 09134666668 or 09134448093, or via email at [email protected].