Kidnappers of Benue Church Worshippers demand N100m ransom

Abductors of nine worshippers at St John’s Catholic Church, Ojije, in Utonkon, Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, have demanded a ransom of N100 million for their release.

The victims, said to be women and youths, were reportedly holding a vigil at the church when gunmen stormed the premises around 2 a.m. on Sunday and whisked them away.

A family member of one of the abductees, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told PUNCH Metro on Thursday that the kidnappers established contact with the families on Wednesday and initially demanded N100 million.

According to the source, negotiations later led to a reduction of the ransom to N30 million in the early hours of Thursday.

“This is the situation we have found ourselves in. It was only yesterday (Wednesday) that they contacted us and demanded N100 million,” the source said.

“After negotiation, they reduced the ransom to N30 million, which is what we are now struggling to raise. We are seeking assistance from friends, relatives, and the wider public. We are also appealing to public-spirited individuals, corporate organisations, and civil society groups to help secure their release.”

The source added that although security agencies had been deployed to the area, the kidnappers had yet to be apprehended.

“Security agencies are on the ground, but our people have not been rescued. We are calling on the government to deploy more personnel to comb the forest and ensure the safe return of the victims,” the source said.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful as calls to her mobile phone went unanswered.

However, the Chairman of Ado Local Government Area, Sunday Oche, declined to comment on the ransom demand but assured that security operatives were working towards the safe rescue of the abducted worshippers.