Pastor, two worshippers abducted from Church residence in Benue

A pastor and two members of his congregation have been kidnapped in Benue State, further highlighting growing security concerns across the state.

The abducted cleric, Reverend Samuel Gbinde, is a pastor of the Universal Reform Christian Church (URCC), popularly known as Nongu u Kristu u i Ser u sha Tar (NKST).

The General Secretary of the church, Reverend Titus Targba, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Wednesday.

According to him, the victims were abducted on Tuesday from the pastor’s residence located within the NKST Church premises at Andyar in Ishan Classis, Benue State.

“The victims were abducted from the pastor’s residence at NKST Church, Andyar, in Ishan Classis, Benue State,” the statement read.

Targba appealed to members of the church and the general public to pray for the safe and unconditional release of the pastor and the two abducted church members.

He also called on security agencies as well as the Benue State and Federal Governments to take urgent action to rescue the victims and apprehend those responsible for the abduction.

“We further call on the relevant security agencies, as well as the Governments of Benue State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to act swiftly and decisively to secure the safe rescue of the abducted persons and ensure that those responsible for this criminal act are apprehended and brought to justice,” he said.

The church also urged authorities to adopt more proactive measures to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.

“It is imperative to take the fight to the perpetrators rather than merely responding after these heinous crimes have been committed,” Targba added.

The latest abduction comes amid renewed concerns over insecurity in Benue State.

Only days earlier, the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Ardo Risku, and his associate, Yakubu Isa, were killed after attending a peace meeting in Ohimini Local Government Area. Police later confirmed the arrest of 10 suspects in connection with the killings.

The abduction of the NKST pastor and the two church members adds to a growing list of kidnappings and violent attacks recorded across Benue despite ongoing security operations and peace initiatives.

The Benue State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the latest incident as of the time of filing this report.