Gunmen have abducted nine worshippers from Saint John’s Catholic Church in Ojije, Utonkon District of Ado Local Government Area of Benue State.
The incident occurred on Sunday night while the victims were attending a vigil within the church premises.
A former councillor representing Ukwuenyo Ward in the Ado Local Government legislative council, Emmanuel Udah, confirmed the abduction on Monday. Speaking in a telephone interview, he described the attack as a deliberate assault on a place of worship.
He said the worshippers were taken while praying, describing the incident as a targeted crime against innocent and unarmed people in what should have been a safe and sacred environment.
Udah added that residents of the area have been left traumatised and no longer feel secure in their communities. He called on authorities to strengthen security and address the persistent attacks across parts of Benue State.
According to him, the people of Utonkon feel abandoned by government at all levels despite repeated incidents of violence in the area.
He said families have been broken, children traumatised, and farmers, traders, and worshippers now live in fear, stressing that the latest attack reflects a broader pattern of insecurity affecting rural communities in the state.
Udah urged the government to intensify efforts to rescue the abducted worshippers. He also called on religious organisations, civil society groups, human rights bodies, and the international community to speak out and support affected communities.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Udeme Edet, said nine worshippers were abducted. She added that the Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, had deployed tactical teams, working alongside local vigilantes, to track the kidnappers and secure the victims’ release.
