A court has formally convicted and sentenced nine out of ten suspects involved in the kidnapping of worshippers at St. John Catholic Church in Ojije community, located in the Ado Local Government Area of Benue State.
The nine individuals were abducted during a vigil on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
Security authorities, acting on reliable intelligence, initiated coordinated operations that successfully led to the rescue of all the victims.
The initial phase of the operations was conducted by the Police Intelligence Response Team. They arrested four suspects and seized AK-47 rifles along with ammunition.
Further investigations resulted in additional arrests, bringing the total number of suspects to ten.
The apprehended individuals included Abubakar Jibril and Ashiru Ibrahim, whose capture provided significant information that contributed to the dismantling of the criminal group responsible for the kidnapping.
After their arraignment, nine of the suspects received various prison sentences, while the remaining suspect is still pending trial.
The Chairman of Ado Local Government Council, Engr. Sunny Oche, confirmed the sentencing through a statement released on Saturday, March 21, by his spokesperson, Aluma Moses.
Oche recognized the collaborative efforts of security agencies, including the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and local vigilante groups, for their effective response.
He also acknowledged the contributions of Governor Hyacinth Alia, the Inspector General of Police, and Deputy Governor Sam Odeh in ensuring that justice was achieved.
Oche underscored that the outcome of the case represents a firm commitment to protecting lives and restoring the community's confidence in the security system.
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