Gunmen abducted nine worshippers from St John’s Catholic Church, Ojije, in Utonkon District, Ado LGA, Benue State during a night vigil at about 2 a.m. on Sunday. Reporting indicates the victims were mostly women and youths, taken while praying during a 30-day church vigil. Local accounts describe the incident as deepening fear and disrupting daily life across the community, including among farmers, traders, and congregants.

Families of the abducted say the kidnappers first contacted them on Wednesday and demanded N100m, later reducing the demand to N30m during negotiations in the early hours of Thursday. A community representative said the abduction reflects “growing insecurity” in rural areas of Benue State, while a former councillor described it as a “targeted and planned crime against the Church”. The chairman of Ado LGA, Sunday Oche, confirmed the abduction and said he mobilized security agencies to work toward rescue; families also reported that security agencies were deployed but had not yet rescued the victims.

What this means: The incident underscores that church gatherings—especially overnight vigils—can be exploited as predictable, low-defense targets and may be perceived locally as deliberate targeting of a faith community.

Who's at risk: Christian congregations and ministry teams operating in and around Utonkon District, Ado LGA, Benue State—particularly those hosting night programs such as extended vigils—face elevated exposure to abduction-for-ransom dynamics evidenced by the N100m demand later reduced to N30m.

Outlook: Expect continued pressure on families and community leaders as negotiations continue, with security response efforts ongoing but unresolved per reporting that deployments have not yet led to arrests or rescue and local officials urging tighter controls on night events without security coverage.

IBADAN, NIGERIA – Two members of a CAC church in Ibadan, Oyo State, were arraigned in an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court for alleged conspiracy and threats to kill two pastors and other church members. Police said the alleged threats and related actions occurred at a CAC church on Sango-Poly Road in Ibadan between 2022 and December 2025.

MAKURDI, NIGERIA – Pastor Francis Aduh Ojo of Dunamis International Gospel Centre reportedly died in a car crash while fleeing a reported encounter with bandits near Makurdi, Benue State. A family member said he was returning from Makurdi after a crusade when the incident occurred on February 12, 2026.

KOGI STATE, NIGERIA – Kogi State officials warned churches to end worship activities by 4:00pm and avoid isolated services without security cover after reporting credible intelligence of planned bandit attacks. Authorities said intercepted conversations discussed kidnapping worshippers for ransom and a specific plot to attack a church in IJUMU Local Government Area, and that coordinated security measures were activated to prevent it.

TWIFO DENYASE CAMP, GHANA – In TWIFO DENYASE CAMP, CENTRAL REGION, GHANA, a 62-year-old woman was killed and her daughter critically injured in an alleged cutlass attack near an Apostolic Church structure. The suspect, a co-tenant, was later found dead and is believed to have been lynched by residents after the attack.

ACCRA, GHANA – A woman was reportedly caught on camera attempting to set fire to the Grace Mountain Ministries (Alpha Hour) auditorium in Ghana linked to Pastor Agyemang Elvis. Church security contained the fire and the suspect was reportedly arrested and handed over to police; property damage was reported and no casualties were reported.

KARKU, NIGERIA – Gunmen attacked Holy Trinity Parish in the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan at the parish priest’s residence in KARKU, KAURU LGA, KADUNA STATE, killing three people and abducting 11 others. Those abducted included the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Nathaniel Asuwaye.

No current updates.

No current updates.

PARJANG, INDIA – A Hindu nationalist mob assaulted house-church pastor Bipin Bihari Naik during a worship service in Parjang village, Dhenkanal District, Odisha, forcing him to walk on thorns and attempting to compel him to chant Hindu slogans and drink water mixed with cow dung. The report alleges police did not intervene promptly; Naik’s family later relocated for safety and an FIR was registered after Christian leaders petitioned police officials.

No current updates.

No current updates.

No current updates.

WAGONER, UNITED STATES – Immanuel Southern Baptist Church in Wagoner, Oklahoma reported its bank accounts were taken over and drained via unauthorized withdrawals totaling $85,907.27. The church reported the theft to police and worked with its bank as the investigation continued.

SPRINGFIELD, UNITED STATES – Law enforcement investigated reported threats sent to at least two Springfield churches—Christ Episcopal Church and St. John Missionary Baptist Church—and assessed and cleared the premises as a precaution. City officials said there was no substantiated threat at the time of reporting.

MOBILE, UNITED STATES – Mobile Police arrested a man after he and a woman were reportedly seen stealing metal items from behind a church on Moffett Road in Mobile, Alabama. The man was found loading the items onto a trailer and was charged with second-degree retail theft of property.

SHELBURNE, UNITED STATES – Ugandan pastor and asylum seeker Steven Tendo alleged in sworn statements to a U.S. federal court that he was tortured by Ugandan security forces. He was arrested by ICE outside his workplace in Shelburne, Vermont and transferred to Strafford County Jail in Dover, New Hampshire, where he remains detained pending deportation.

SATU MARE, ROMANIA – Unknown perpetrators used black spray paint to cover Hungarian-language inscriptions on a bilingual street sign and a Hungarian-language information board at the Ascension Cathedral in Satu Mare, Romania, leaving the Romanian text untouched. Local Hungarian community leaders and city/county officials condemned the vandalism and called for an official investigation.

No current updates.

Please pray for Christians across India who are facing rising hostility and pressure because of their faith, especially in rural areas where house churches can be easy targets.

In Parjang village, a Hindu nationalist mob reportedly attacked a house-church during worship and assaulted Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik—forcing him to walk on thorns and attempting to compel him to chant Hindu slogans and drink water mixed with cow dung; the report also alleges police did not intervene promptly. Naik’s family later relocated for safety, and an FIR was registered after local Christian leaders petitioned police officials.

Pray for healing and protection for Pastor Naik, safety and provision for his family, courage and unity for local believers, and for justice, restraint of further violence, and softened hearts across India.

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