ENUGU — Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Enugu State have apprehended a gang of suspected kidnappers responsible for the abduction of members of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Inoyi-Affa, in Udi Local Government Area.
The suspects were paraded at the Enugu State Headquarters of the DSS following their arrest, which led to the successful rescue of the abducted victims, including a Catholic seminarian.
The victims were abducted on Sunday, August 2, 2026, when armed gunmen ambushed members of the congregation within the Inoyi-Affa community, dragging them into nearby forest reserves and demanding ransom payments.
Following the abduction, joint security operations involving DSS personnel, police tactical teams, and local vigilante groups launched targeted intelligence-led tracks into suspected criminal hideouts along the Udi-Oji River corridor.
Security sources confirmed that the operation culminated in the apprehension of the primary suspects and the safe release of all held captives, who have since been reunited with their families and church leadership after receiving medical clearance.
The Enugu State Command has reiterated its resolve to clear rural communities and transport corridors of criminal elements, warning that criminal networks operating within the state will face the full weight of the law.
