Abducted Benue priest, Fr. John Otache, rescued

Catholic priest Rev. Fr. John Otache, who was abducted along the Otobi Amejo–Ajegbe Road in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, has been rescued alongside three other kidnap victims, Vanguard reported. A joint team of security personnel and community vigilantes carried out the operation, the newspaper said.

Otache is the parish priest of St. Margaret’s Parish, Ajegbe-Awume. The victims were reportedly freed at about 4pm on Sunday after days of operations by security personnel and local vigilantes. “The priest and three other persons were rescued today at about 4pm by a team of local vigilantes and the police, who have been working on the matter in the last few days,” a local source said.

Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondongu, confirmed the rescue operation. “Apart from the priest, others were also rescued today during the operation,” he said. “We are, however, hopeful that the priest and the others are in good health,” the same source added.