Makurdi, Benue State – February 13, 2026 — Terrorists who abducted nine Catholic worshippers during a night vigil at St John’s Catholic Church in Ojije, Utonkon District, Ado Local Government Area of Benue State have demanded an initial ransom of N100 million for their release.
The victims—mostly women and youths—were seized at approximately 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 8, 2026, while participating in the church’s night vigil. The attackers reportedly stormed the church premises, overpowered those present, and whisked away the nine individuals into the surrounding bush.
A family member of one of the abducted persons, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity for security reasons, confirmed that the kidnappers made first contact with the families on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, demanding N100 million. Following initial negotiations conducted in the early hours of Thursday, February 12, the abductors reportedly reduced their demand to N30 million.
“We only heard from them yesterday (Wednesday) when they demanded N100 million,” the source said. “After negotiations, they agreed to N30 million, which we are now struggling to raise. We are appealing to friends, relatives, well-meaning individuals, corporate bodies, and civil society groups to assist in securing their release.”
The family member expressed deep concern over the slow progress in securing the victims’ freedom, noting that despite the deployment of security operatives to the area, the terrorists have not been apprehended and no rescue operation has yet succeeded. The source urged the federal and state governments to intensify efforts by deploying additional personnel to comb the forests and surrounding communities where the abductors are believed to be hiding.
Attempts to obtain an official reaction from the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful as calls to her mobile phone went unanswered at the time of filing this report.
The Chairman of Ado Local Government Area, Hon. Sunday Oche, declined to comment specifically on the ransom negotiations but assured residents and the families that security agencies are actively working to ensure the safe return of the abducted worshippers.
“This is a very painful incident for our people. We are in constant touch with security agencies, and they have assured us that every effort is being made to locate and rescue the victims,” the chairman said. “We appeal for calm while the professionals handle the situation.”
The abduction at St John’s Catholic Church is the latest in a series of violent incidents targeting religious gatherings, travellers, and rural communities in Benue State’s southern zones, particularly along the Otukpo–Oju–Ado corridor. The area has become increasingly vulnerable to attacks by armed groups operating from forest hideouts in neighbouring local government areas and across state borders.
Benue State has witnessed a surge in kidnap-for-ransom incidents in recent months, with criminals often targeting churches, markets, schools, and highways. The N100 million initial demand—later negotiated down to N30 million—follows a disturbing pattern in which abductors routinely start with exorbitant figures before settling for lower sums after prolonged negotiations.
Human rights groups, religious leaders, and community stakeholders in Benue have repeatedly called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency on insecurity in the North-Central region, deploy additional troops, establish permanent forward operating bases, and improve intelligence sharing to dismantle criminal networks operating in the forests.
The Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, under which St John’s Catholic Church falls, has not issued a formal statement on the incident at the time of this report, though local priests have been quietly coordinating with families and security agencies.
As negotiations continue and families scramble to raise the demanded ransom, the plight of the nine abducted worshippers has once again highlighted the persistent threat of banditry and kidnapping in parts of Benue State. Residents and faith-based organisations have appealed for urgent and decisive action to prevent further abductions and secure the release of those already in captivity.
Security experts warn that paying ransoms, while often the only immediate option for desperate families, perpetuates the cycle of abduction-for-profit and emboldens criminal groups. They continue to urge reliance on professional security operations rather than private payments.
The Benue State Government and security agencies have yet to provide a detailed update on any ongoing rescue efforts or progress in locating the victims.
