Gunmen have abducted nine members of Saint John’s Catholic Church, Ojije, in the Utonkon District of Ado Local Government Area of Benue State.
The worshippers were reportedly taken away on Sunday night while participating in a vigil within the church premises, an incident that has thrown the community into fear and shock.
The abduction was confirmed on Monday by a former councillor who represented Ukwuenyo Ward in the Ado local government legislative council, Emmanuel Udah.
Speaking in a telephone interview with Channels Television, Udah described the incident as “a targeted and planned crime against the Church, when innocent worshippers were at the most sacred ground, a place of worship, a place for peace, and refuge, only to be abducted, while praying, vulnerable and unarmed”.
He said residents of the area have been deeply traumatised by the development and now feel unsafe in their own community.
Udah called on relevant authorities to strengthen security measures and halt what he described as persistent attacks across Benue State.
He expressed frustration over what he termed a growing sense of neglect by governments at all levels, noting that similar incidents had been repeatedly reported in different parts of the state.
“The people of Utonkon are living in fear, families are broken, children are traumatised, farmers, traders, worshippers, are all trapped as no one feels safe anymore in our land.
“This incident is not isolated; it reflects a growing pattern of insecurity that rural communities in Benue State continue to endure in silence and neglect. We are raising our voices because silence will kill us all,” the former councillor stated.
While urging the government to intensify efforts to secure the release of the nine abducted worshippers, Udah appealed to religious institutions and the international community to take a stand against persecution.
“Religious bodies, civil society organizations, human-rights groups, and the international community should speak out and stand with us.
“We are not asking for sympathy alone. We are asking for attention, protection, and justice. Let the world know that Utonkon matters,” he added.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, Udeme Edet, said nine worshippers were indeed abducted.
She disclosed that the state Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, has deployed tactical police units in collaboration with local vigilante groups to pursue the kidnappers and rescue the victims, adding that security operatives are currently on the trail of those responsible for the attack.
What you should know
The abduction at Saint John’s Catholic Church highlights the worsening insecurity facing rural communities in Benue State, where attacks on civilians have become increasingly frequent.
The incident has renewed calls for stronger security presence and faster response mechanisms, especially in vulnerable areas.
Community leaders say repeated attacks have left residents traumatised and distrustful of the government’s ability to protect lives and property, while security agencies insist efforts are ongoing to rescue the victims and apprehend those responsible.
