9 worshippers abducted during vigil in Benue Catholic Church

2026-02-10 - 03:59

...US lawmaker condemns attack on Kaduna parish, calls for prayers, action By Peter Duru Makurdi —There is fear and mourning in Utonkon District of Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, after nine worshippers were abducted from St. John’s Catholic Church, Ojije, during a vigil in the early hours of Sunday. This came as United States Representative Riley Moore, yesterday, called for prayers for the safe return of Fr. Nathaniel Asuwaye of Holy Trinity Parish in Kaduna, who was reportedly kidnapped alongside 10 others during a violent attack. The Benue church victims, mostly women and youths, were reportedly taken about 2 a.m., while praying inside the church. The incident has plunged the community into deep anxiety, with parents and children traumatised and daily life disrupted as fear grips farmers, traders and worshippers at the church, who were on a 30-day prayer meeting. Speaking on the development, National Publicity Secretary of the Ufia Development Association, an umbrella body of the sons and daughters of the community, Mr. Jude Onwe, said the abduction underscored the growing insecurity confronting rural communities across Benue State. “Our people were praying. They were unarmed. They were vulnerable. This is not an isolated incident. Silence will kill us. We are raising our voices because our lives matter and Utonkon matters,” he said. He called on the Federal and Benue State gvernments to act decisively, urging security agencies to intensify rescue efforts while appealing to religious bodies, civil society organisations, human rights groups and the international community to come to the aid of the community. Another source revealed that two weeks earlier, a man and a woman were kidnapped about the same hour in the area and later released after a ransom of N3 million was paid to their abductors. According to the source, the previously released victims alleged that their captors spoke in a manner suggesting Fulani origin, although community leaders stressed that such claims remained unverified. Confirming the latest abduction, Chairman of Ado council, Mr. Sunday Oche, described the incident as unfortunate, noting that the council had taken swift action. “The incident is true. That is what we have been battling with. Once we received the sad news, I mobilised all the security agencies, and we are working to ensure the victims are rescued,” he said. He warned residents against organising night activities without security coverage, adding: “Any programme held at night, whether marriage, burial or festival, must involve security agencies and should not exceed 9p.m., otherwise people are endangered.” Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command spokesperson, Udeme Edet, confirmed the abduction but said details were still being compiled and promised to provide further information but had yet to do so as at press time. US lawmaker condemns attack on Kaduna parish In a post shared on his X platform, Moore stated that three parishioners were “brutally murdered by radical Islamic jihadists” during the assault. He described the past week as “some of the most horrifically bloody days in recent history for Christians across Nigeria.” Moore urged the Nigerian government to take decisive action to protect all citizens, warning that continued attacks on Christians constitute violent persecution. “The genocide of Christians must end, and it falls squarely on the Nigerian government’s shoulders to defend its citizens, all of its citizens,” he said. He concluded by asking the public to continue praying for the safety of those affected: “Please keep praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ.”