…community cries for help
By Bose
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There is wave of fear and mourning in Utonkon District of Ado Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue State, after nine worshippers were abducted from St. John’s Catholic Church, Ojije, during a night vigil in the early hours of Sunday.
The victims, mostly women and youths, were reportedly taken at about 2:00am 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, the 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 Governments to act decisively, urging security agencies to intensify rescue efforts while appealing to religious bodies, civil society organizations, human rights groups, and the international community to come to the aid of the community.
Another source revealed that barely two weeks earlier, a man and a woman were kidnapped around the same hour in the area and later released after a ransom of N3million was allegedly paid to their abductors.
Confirming the latest abduction, the Chairman of Ado LGA, 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 mobilized all the security agencies, and we are working seriously to ensure the victims are rescued.”
He also warned residents against organizing night activities without security coverage.
“Any programme held at night, whether marriage, burial, or festival, must involve security agencies and should not exceed 9pm, otherwise people are endangered,” he cautioned.
Oche further urged restraint in assigning blame, saying, “We cannot be flippant in casting aspersions. Security agencies are working on credible clues, and it is premature to draw conclusions now.”
Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the abduction but said details were still being compiled. She promised to provide further information but had yet to do so as of press time. Vanguard
