Gunmen have reportedly attacked St. Joseph Catholic Church, Inoyi, in the Affa community of Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, abducting a seminarian and a worshipper during Sunday Mass.

The attack, which occurred during a church service on Sunday morning, threw the congregation into panic as the assailants reportedly stormed the church premises and whisked away the two victims before fleeing the scene.

Church sources identified one of the abductees as a seminarian attached to the parish, while the second victim was said to be a worshipper attending the Mass.

Their identities had not been officially disclosed at the time of filing this report.

The circumstances surrounding the attack were still unclear, and it remained uncertain whether the kidnappers had established contact with the victims’ families or church authorities.

The incident has heightened concerns over the growing insecurity affecting places of worship in parts of Nigeria, where churches, mosques, schools, and rural communities have increasingly become targets of kidnappers and armed criminal groups.

Security agencies have reportedly launched efforts to rescue the abducted victims and apprehend those responsible for the attack.

However, the Enugu State Police Command had not issued a detailed official statement on the incident as of the time of this report.

The Catholic Church has repeatedly appealed to government authorities to strengthen security around worship centres following a series of attacks on clergy and faithful in different parts of the country.

Religious leaders have also called for more proactive intelligence gathering and community policing to curb the activities of criminal gangs.

The latest abduction adds to a growing list of security incidents involving religious institutions, underscoring the persistent challenge of kidnapping for ransom and violent crime in several parts of Nigeria.

Residents of the Affa community have urged security agencies to intensify rescue efforts and restore confidence among worshippers and local communities.

A fire has broken out at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, prompting an emergency response by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

According to preliminary information, FAAN’s Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Service (ARFFS) was immediately deployed to the scene to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the terminal.

As of the time of filing this report, no casualties or injuries have been reported, while emergency responders continue efforts to bring the situation under control. Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire. 

Airport officials have urged passengers and members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with emergency personnel as safety procedures are carried out.

Further details regarding the extent of the damage and any impact on flight operations are expected after a full assessment. 

The latest incident has renewed attention on fire safety and emergency preparedness at Nigeria’s busiest international gateway.

Earlier fire incidents at the airport prompted reviews of emergency response procedures and infrastructure safety, with FAAN maintaining that passenger safety remains its highest priority. 

Nigeria Insight will continue to monitor the situation and provide verified updates as more official information becomes available.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will secure re-election in the 2027 presidential election, describing the contest as “a coronation exercise rather than an election.”

Keyamo made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television, where he argued that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) enjoys a significant electoral advantage based on what he described as the party’s widespread political structure and demographic strength.

According to the minister, the APC remains firmly positioned ahead of potential challengers, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi.

“2027 will be more like a coronation than an election,” Keyamo said, while clarifying that his remarks should not be interpreted as suggesting that the election would be manipulated or rigged.

The minister maintained that President Tinubu’s political network, governance record, and the APC’s nationwide presence place the ruling party in a favourable position ahead of the next general election.

Keyamo also questioned Peter Obi’s electoral prospects, arguing that he could not identify where the former Anambra State governor would secure enough votes to mount a successful presidential challenge.

He similarly dismissed Atiku Abubakar as a major electoral threat to the APC, insisting that the opposition had yet to present a political strategy capable of unseating the ruling party.

The comments come amid increasing political activity ahead of the 2027 elections, with both the APC and opposition parties intensifying consultations, coalition talks, and internal realignments.

While the APC has continued to project confidence about retaining power, opposition leaders have repeatedly maintained that they remain determined to challenge the ruling party at the polls.

Political analysts note that although campaign rhetoric has begun to shape public discourse, Nigeria’s electoral process remains constitutionally determined by the votes cast by citizens and administered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

As political preparations gather momentum, observers expect more policy debates, party alignments, and campaign declarations in the months leading to the next presidential election.