Security forces save kidnapped seminarian and worshipper

Security agents in Enugu State have saved a Catholic seminarian and one other worshipper after they were kidnapped about a week ago.

Chidiebere Onyia, the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, announced this rescue at the State Security Service (SSS) headquarters in Enugu on Monday evening.

Earlier reports stated that gunmen attacked a Catholic Church in Enugu State and took the seminarian, Lawrence Chidera Igbo, and another worshipper, Emmanuel Onwudi. This incident happened on August 2 when the assailants invaded St. Joseph Catholic Church, Inoyi, in the Udi Local Government Area.

Mr. Onyia, who is also a professor, said that during the rescue, three suspected kidnappers were arrested while one was killed in a shootout with security forces.

He mentioned that the operation involved the SSS, the army, the police, and the Enugu State Forest Guard. He confirmed that a ransom was paid to the kidnappers, but it helped security forces track them down using advanced security tools.

Mr. Onyia stated that the ransom has since been recovered from the criminals after the operation. "There was one fatality in this process. It was one of the criminals who died in the process of apprehending them."

He added, "Usually, criminal elements will not want to be apprehended easily without a fight, but our people were ready, and we have one fatality, while the others are here now, as you could see; and they will face the full wrath of the law."

The SSG noted that the rescued victims identified the suspects as their abductors. He said that some weapons, including AK-47 rifles and seven ammunition magazines, were seized from the suspects during the operation.

Mr. Onyia declared that the Enugu State Government is committed to battling crime and warned criminals to stay away from the state. "We made it very clear that if criminality becomes your venture, Enugu State is not the location to do that business; that we will pursue you, we will make sure we bring you to justice, and that was why we put strong security measures across the state."

He also cautioned residents who aid criminals or act as informants. He vowed to track them down as well. "We will find you also, just as we have found these people, and we will prosecute you as part of this evil operation and this evil syndicate," he stressed.

Mr. Onyia praised the security forces for successfully rescuing the victims. "We also want to commend all the security agencies: the SSS, Nigerian Army, Nigerian police, Enugu State Forest Guard, military services, and others for being very instrumental in some of the work that was done, and continue to do in Enugu State," he added.