Nine Children Kidnapped from Benue Church Regain Freedom
By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa
The nine children abducted during a night vigil at St. John’s Catholic Church in Ado LGA have been freed.
They regained their liberty Saturday night after spending one week in captivity.
The abduction took place in the Utonkon District, causing widespread panic. The kidnappers initially demanded a N100 million ransom, which was later slashed to N30 million during negotiations.
It remains unconfirmed whether any ransom was paid before the children were released. The victims were sighted returning to their community just 24 hours after a gubernatorial intervention.
Governor Hyacinth Alia had issued a stern directive for the immediate rescue of the victims. He ordered security agencies to prioritize the safe return of the children to their families.
The children arrived in Ojije around 8 p.m., met by an ecstatic and emotional crowd. Parents and neighbors celebrated with tears of relief as the young victims were safely reunited.
Despite the happy ending, the incident underscores the vulnerability of religious gatherings to criminal raids. Local authorities are continuing investigations to track down and arrest the gang responsible.
