Benue: Deputy Speaker condemns kidnap of worshippers in Utonkon, seeks immediate rescue

Nine members of St. John’s Catholic Church in Ojije, Utonkon District, Ado Local Government Area, were kidnapped on February 7, 2026, in an attack that has thrown the community into fear and uncertainty.

Reacting to the incident, the Deputy Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Chief Hon. Mrs. Lami Danladi Ogenyi, expressed profound sorrow and called for immediate intervention by security agencies.

In a statement issued by her Chief Press Secretary, Agbaji Samuel Atsonwu, Danladi condemned the attack, describing it as a “serious affront to peace, faith, and the collective conscience of Ado LGA.”

She noted that targeting places of worship, which are meant to serve as sanctuaries, is deeply disturbing and unacceptable.

According to her, the atmosphere of fear spreading across Utonkon and surrounding communities has left families emotionally shaken, disrupted livelihoods, and made daily activities unsafe.

The Deputy Speaker warned that the abduction highlights the worsening security situation in Ado LGA and cautioned that inaction could allow the crisis to deepen.

Chief Danladi urged the Chief Security Officer of Ado LGA to urgently initiate clear, coordinated, and practical measures to aid rescue efforts, calm public anxiety, and stop further attacks.

She further called on security agencies to improve surveillance, boost intelligence gathering, and enhance cooperation with local communities, especially in sensitive areas such as churches.

In addition, she appealed to traditional leaders, religious figures, youth organizations, and other stakeholders to stay alert, work closely with authorities, and refuse to remain silent in the face of violence.

She emphasized that residents of Ado LGA are not merely asking for sympathy, but demanding firm action, responsibility, and lasting security.