From Attah Ede, Makurdi
The abductors of nine catholic church worshippers in Ojije community in Utonkon district of Ado local government area of Benue State have opened negotiations for payment of ransom, demanding N100 million.
On Sunday 8th February, 2026, kidnappers invaded St John’s Catholic Church, Ojije in Utonkon, Ado LGA of the State at about 2am and Kidnapped children, women and youths while they were observing a vigil.
A family member of one of the victims who spoke on condition of anonymity said the kidnappers have opened discussions with them yesterday (Wednesday) demanding 100 million to be paid as ransom but later reduced it to N30m as at Thursday afternoon.
He said as at today (Thursday), the abductors have reduced the amount to N30 million, saying that if the victims families failed to make the ransom available, they should expect anything.
“This is the situation we find ourselves now. We are working hard to raise the money. We are soliciting assistance from friends and relatives to enable us to raise the funds.
“We are also, appealing to public spirited individuals, corporate and civil society organizations to come to the aid of the abductees.
“As I speak to you, security agencies deployed to the area are still in and around our community but they are unable to arrest the kidnappers and rescue our people. We are also calling on government to deploy more security agencies to the comb the forest so as to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators”.
Efforts to get update from the police on the issue proved abortive as the state command police public relations officer, DSP Udeme Edet, didn’t pick calls or respond to text messages sent to her cell phone as at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the Senate Minority Leader and Senator Representing Benue South Senatorial District, Dr. Abba Moro, on Thursday, visited Ojije Community in Utonkon, Ado Local Government Area of Benue State to sympathize with the community and immediate families of the kidnapped victims.
Senator Moro who was represented by the Senior Legislative Aide to Senate President, Chief George Aliih said, he was devastated upon receiving the sad news.
He assured the community of collaborative efforts towards releasing the victims from kidnappers, adding that, as a Senator who does not forget his people both in good and bad times, he would stand by them until the victims are rescue unhurt.
He urged the security people to redouble their efforts to ensure the unconditional release of the victims.
In their separate speeches, the Community Youth Leader Mr. Ogbu Ignatius Ejeh, the Clan Head of Ojije, Chief Ideva Mark Ajor, and the Church Leader all thanked Senator Moro for coming.
They appealed to the senator to do everything humanly possible to facilitate the unconditional release of the kidnap victims and also provide security for their people to prevent future occurrence, saying the situation was quite unfortunate and very traumatizing.
They names of Children that were kidnapped from St. John of the Cross Ojije, on the 7th February , 2026 are Enwe Peter, Ikeh Janet, Echi Victoria, Ejali Mary, Agbo Victoria, Orji Philip, Ejali Godwin, Orji Victoria, Unogwu Victoria.
