Gunmen have abducted nine worshippers at Saint John’s Catholic Church, Ojije, in Utonkon District of Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, sparking fresh concerns over insecurity in rural communities.
The abduction occurred during a vigil held within the church premises, eyewitnesses and community sources said.
Confirming the incident, a former councillor who represented Ukwuenyo Ward in the Ado Local Government Legislative Council, Emmanuel Udah, described the attack as a deliberate assault on a place of worship.
“This was 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,” Udah said.
He noted that the incident has left residents of Utonkon traumatised and fearful, adding that many no longer feel safe in their homes or places of worship.
“The people of Utonkon are living in fear. Families are broken, children are traumatised, farmers, traders and worshippers are all trapped, as no one feels safe anymore in our land,” he lamented.
Udah further criticised what he described as persistent government neglect despite repeated reports of similar attacks across Benue communities.
“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,” he stated.
The former councillor called on federal and state authorities to urgently strengthen security in the area and ensure the safe rescue of the abducted worshippers. He also appealed to religious bodies and the international community to intervene.
“We are not asking for sympathy alone. We are asking for attention, protection, and justice. Let the world know that Utonkon matters,” Udah added.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command has confirmed the abduction. The police spokesperson, Udeme Edet, said nine worshippers were taken during the attack.
According to her, the Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, has deployed tactical units in collaboration with local vigilante groups to track the gunmen and rescue the victims.
“The police are on the trail of the perpetrators and all necessary resources have been mobilised to ensure the victims are rescued and the suspects brought to justice,” Edet said.
