Tragedy has struck the Christian community in Benue State after heavily armed men abducted a prominent cleric, Samuel Gbinde, and two of his congregants during a daring raid on his residence.
The victims, identified as Reverend Dr Samuel Gbinde and two members of his flock, were seized in the early hours of Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
The armed invasion took place at the pastor’s official residence located within the premises of the Nongo u Kristu u i Ser u sha Tar (NKST) Church in Andyar, situated under the Ishan Classis administrative region of the state.
The leadership of the NKST Church broke the news of the attack through an official statement issued by its Executive Committee.
Expressing deep sorrow over the breach, the church leadership called on all its clergy, members, and friends nationwide to unite in earnest prayers for the safe, immediate, and unconditional release of the victims.
The church also petitioned the heavens to grant profound strength, comfort, and psychological hope to the immediate families of the victims, the local Andyar congregation, and the broader NKST family currently reeling from the trauma of the incident.
Turning its attention to state authorities, the church hierarchy made a passionate appeal to security agencies, the Benue State Government, and the Federal Government to take swift, decisive action to rescue the captives.
The statement emphasised that the government must act aggressively to hunt down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
The NKST leadership argued that the persistent rise in kidnappings across the country requires security forces to change their strategy, urging them to adopt proactive measures and take the fight directly to the criminal hideouts rather than merely responding after havoc has already been wrecked.
As of the time of filing this report, the Benue State Police Command has yet to release an official statement regarding the abduction.
Security sources indicate that tactical teams are currently assessing the situation, and active efforts are underway to establish contact and secure the safe return of the cleric and his members.
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