Gunmen have abducted a senior pastor of the Universal Reformed Christian Church (NKST), Rev. Dr. Samuel Gbinde, along with two members of his congregation in Andyar community, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The victims were reportedly taken from the pastor’s residence in the early hours of Tuesday after armed men stormed the area and opened fire to scare residents.
A source in the community said the attackers broke into the cleric’s home late at night before whisking him and two church members away to an unknown location.
“The gunmen arrived under the cover of darkness and began shooting sporadically. People ran for safety while they abducted the pastor and two church members who were with him,” the source said.
Residents said the community’s proximity to Logo Local Government Area, a region frequently troubled by banditry and attacks by armed herders, has heightened concerns about insecurity in the area.
Confirming the incident, NKST General Secretary, Rev. Dr. T.A. Targba, described the abduction as painful and called on Christians across the country to pray for the safe return of the victims.
“It is with a heavy heart, but with faith in God’s protection, that we announce the abduction of Rev. Dr. Samuel Gbinde and two members of his congregation in the early hours of June 30, 2026,” the church said in a statement.
The church urged security agencies and both the Benue State and Federal Governments to intensify efforts to rescue the victims and bring those responsible to justice.
It also expressed concern over the continued rise in kidnappings and insecurity, calling for stronger and more proactive measures to tackle criminal activities before attacks occur.
Despite the incident, the church said it remains hopeful that the cleric and the two church members will return safely.
Attempts to obtain a response from the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
