The Benue State Government has confirmed the rescue of nine worshippers abducted during a midnight prayer session at Saint John Catholic Church in Ojije, Utonkon community, Ado Local Government Area, bringing relief to residents days after the incident sparked widespread anxiety.
The victims were taken by gunmen last Sunday during a church vigil, an attack that triggered fear across the community. The state government announced their rescue on February 15, 2026, with Governor Hyacinth Alia commending security operatives for what he described as a “significant breakthrough.”
In a statement issued by the Governor’s Technical Adviser on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication, Solomon Iorpev, the governor praised the swift action of security personnel involved in the operation.
Alia assured residents that security agencies and local vigilante groups would continue to work together to tackle kidnapping and prevent further incidents. He also urged members of the public to volunteer credible and timely information that could assist authorities in tracking down criminal elements.
Following the abduction and other attacks reported in Benue South, the governor convened a high level security meeting on 13 February 2026 at the Palace of the Och’Idoma in Otukpo. The meeting brought together members of the Idoma Traditional Council and senior security officials, where the governor directed the immediate rescue of the abducted worshippers.
The abduction had earlier been confirmed by a former councillor representing Ukwuenyo Ward, Emmanuel Udah, who described the incident as “a targeted and planned crime against the Church,” adding that residents were traumatised and increasingly fearful.
Udah called on authorities to strengthen security measures and address recurring attacks in the area, warning that communities felt abandoned despite repeated incidents.
Ademide Adebayo
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