Nine worshippers abducted from St. John’s Catholic Church, Ojije during a vigil on Sunday, February 8, 2026, have been safely rescued, the Benue State Police Command confirmed on Sunday, February 15.
DSP Udeme Edet, the command’s spokesperson, said four suspects have been arrested in connection with the abduction, with operations ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the criminal network.
Edet explained that two suspects—Abubakar Jibril and Ashiru Ibrahim—were first arrested on February 11, found in possession of five rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. They were handed over to the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) for further investigation. A subsequent raid on February 14 led to the arrest of two additional suspects and the recovery of one AK-47 rifle and eight rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
“The arrested suspects are directly linked to the night-vigil abduction at St. John Catholic Church,” Edet said. He added that the successful rescue was achieved through sustained search-and-rescue operations coordinated across Ado and adjoining communities, with victims released unhurt.
The Inspector General approved the deployment of the Police Air Wing for aerial surveillance, alongside reinforcements of tactical teams to strengthen security and intelligence-led operations across the state.
Commissioner of Police Ifeanyi Emenari commended the collaboration between the state government, the Catholic Diocese, Ado LGA leadership, the Nigerian Army, Benue Civil Protection Guard, and other security agencies, noting that inter-agency cooperation was crucial to the operation’s success.
The CP reassured residents that the Command remains fully mobilized to combat kidnapping, banditry, cultism, and all forms of violent crime across Benue State.