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 his Technical Adviser on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication, Solomon Iorpev, Governor Hyacinth Alia praised security operatives for their swift and coordinated response, describing the rescue as a “significant breakthrough.”

The governor assured residents that security agencies, working alongside local vigilante groups, would sustain efforts to curb kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state. He also urged citizens to provide timely and credible information to assist security forces in tracking criminal elements.

Following the abduction and a series of attacks in Benue South, Alia convened a high-level security meeting on February 13, 2026, at the palace of the Och’Idoma in Otukpo. The meeting, which brought together members of the Idoma Traditional Council and top security officials, resulted in a directive for the immediate rescue of the kidnapped worshippers.

Gunmen had stormed the church during a vigil last Sunday, whisking away the nine worshippers and triggering panic within the community. 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 increasingly fearful.

Udah called on authorities to strengthen security in the area and address what he described as recurring attacks, warning that communities felt abandoned despite repeated incidents.

Earlier, the Nigeria Police Force confirmed the abduction. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Udeme Edet, said the Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, deployed tactical teams in collaboration with local vigilantes to track the perpetrators and secure the victims’ release. She added that investigations into the incident are ongoing.