FEAR GRIPS BENUE COMMUNITY AS GUNMEN ABDUCT NINE WORSHIPPERS DURING NIGHT VIGIL
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
There was widespread fear and mourning in Utonkon District of Ado Local Government Area of Benue State after nine worshippers were abducted from St. John’s Catholic Church, Ojije, during a night vigil in the early hours of Sunday.
The victims, said to be mostly women and youths, were reportedly taken around 2:00am while praying inside the church as part of a 30-day prayer programme.
The incident has thrown the community into deep anxiety, with residents traumatised and daily activities disrupted as fear spreads among farmers, traders, and worshippers.
Reacting to the development, the National Publicity Secretary of the Ufia Development Association, Mr. Jude Onwe, described the abduction as a reflection of the worsening insecurity confronting rural communities in Benue State.
“Our people were praying. They were unarmed. They were vulnerable. This is not an isolated incident. Silence will kill us. We are raising our voices because our lives matter and Utonkon matters,” Onwe said.
He called on the Federal and Benue State Governments to take decisive action, urging security agencies to intensify rescue operations. He also appealed to religious bodies, civil society organisations, human rights groups, and the international community to intervene and support the community.
A community source disclosed that the incident occurred barely two weeks after a man and a woman were kidnapped in the same area around a similar time and later released after an alleged payment of ₦3 million ransom.
According to the source, the earlier victims claimed their abductors spoke in a manner suggesting Fulani origin, though community leaders stressed that such claims remained unverified.
Confirming the latest abduction, the Chairman of Ado Local Government Area, Mr. Sunday Oche, described the incident as unfortunate, saying the council had responded swiftly.
“The incident is true. Once we received the sad news, I mobilised all the security agencies, and we are working seriously to ensure the victims are rescued,” Oche said.
He cautioned residents against organising night activities without security coverage, warning that such events should not go beyond 9pm.
“Any programme held at night, whether marriage, burial, or festival, must involve security agencies and should not exceed 9pm, otherwise people are endangered,” he warned.
Oche also urged restraint in assigning blame, noting that security agencies were acting on credible intelligence. “It is premature to draw conclusions at this stage,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the abduction but said details were still being compiled. She promised to provide further updates as investigations continue.
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