Abducted Benue priest passes away following release, Governor's wife expresses grief

Rev. Samuel Gbinde, the Senior Pastor of the Universal Reformed Christian Church, has lost his life just days after being freed from the clutches of suspected armed herdsmen who abducted him in Benue State's Guma Local Government Area.

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His ordeal began about two weeks ago when he was kidnapped alongside two members of his congregation, and although they were eventually released after a ransom was paid, Rev. Gbinde succumbed to the injuries he sustained during his captivity.

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A church member, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the pastor endured severe torture at the hands of his abductors while they waited for the ransom payment, and was left in a critical condition after his release.

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According to the source, Rev. Gbinde was rushed to a mission hospital in Gboko due to his dire state, having been badly beaten and tortured during his time in captivity, but unfortunately, his life could not be saved despite the best efforts of medical personnel in Gboko and later Makurdi.

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The news of the cleric's death has sent shockwaves of grief through the church and the Guma communities, with many paying tribute to him as a dedicated minister who remained committed to serving God and humanity until the very end.

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The Peoples Democratic Party candidate for Benue North-West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections, Dr. Eunice Ortom, has expressed her sadness over the death of the pastor, describing it as a huge loss to the church and the state.

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In a condolence message, Dr. Ortom remembered Rev. Dr. Samuel Gbinde as a devoted servant of God, whose life was characterized by selfless service, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the spiritual and moral wellbeing of his community, and whose death is a painful loss to the NKST family, Guma LGA, and Benue State as a whole.

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Dr. Ortom extended her condolences to the bereaved family, the NKST Church Andyar, Ishan Classis, and the entire NKST Church worldwide, praying that God would grant them the strength to bear the irreparable loss, while also condemning the circumstances surrounding the cleric's death.

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She described the circumstances of Rev. Gbinde's death as a tragic reminder of the worsening insecurity in Benue State, and urged the government and security agencies to intensify their efforts to put an end to the wave of kidnappings, killings, and violent attacks across the state.

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Dr. Ortom emphasized that the protection of lives and property is the primary responsibility of government, and that Rev. Gbinde's death should serve as a catalyst to strengthen collective resolve to restore lasting peace and security in Benue State.