Police confirm kidnap of nine worshippers during night vigil in Benue

The Benue State Police Command has confirmed that nine members of a church were abducted in Ojije community, Utonkon, within Ado Local Government Area of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Edet Udeme, disclosed this in a telephone conversation with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Makurdi, noting that the incident occurred while the victims were participating in a night vigil.

Udeme explained that the worshippers were at St. John’s Catholic Church, Ojije, engaged in prayers when armed assailants stormed the area and took them away.

She stated that, following the incident, the Commissioner of Police directed the immediate deployment of all tactical and operational units to the affected community to intensify efforts toward rescuing the abducted worshippers.

The police spokesperson further assured residents that the command is resolute in its duty to protect lives and property, adding that adequate security measures have been put in place to ensure safety across Benue State.