The Benue State Government has confirmed the rescue of nine worshippers abducted during a midnight prayer session at Saint John Catholic Church in the Ojije area of Utonkon community, Ado Local Government Area.
In a statement issued by the Governor’s Technical Adviser on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication, Solomon Iorpev, Governor Hyacinth Alia commended security operatives for their swift and coordinated response, describing the operation as a “significant breakthrough” in ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity in the state.
Alia assured residents that security agencies would continue working closely with local vigilante groups to curb kidnapping and prevent further attacks. He also urged members of the public to provide timely and credible information to aid the arrest of criminal elements.
In the wake of the abduction and other recent attacks in Benue South, the governor convened a high-level security meeting on February 13, 2026, at the Palace of the Och’Idoma in Otukpo. The meeting, attended by members of the Idoma Traditional Council and senior security officials, ended with a directive for the immediate rescue of the victims and intensified operations across affected communities.
Gunmen had stormed the church during a vigil last Sunday, abducting nine worshippers and sparking widespread fear in the area.
A former councillor representing Ukwuenyo Ward, Emmanuel Udah, described the incident as “a targeted and planned crime against the Church,” noting that residents were traumatised and living in heightened anxiety. He called on authorities to strengthen security presence, warning that communities felt increasingly vulnerable amid recurring attacks.
Earlier, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Udeme Edet, confirmed the abduction and disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, had deployed tactical teams in collaboration with local vigilantes to track down the perpetrators and secure the victims’ release. She added that investigations are ongoing.
