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A thanksgiving service at the House of Solution Church of All Nations (HOSCOAN) in Kpe Aya, Tsua community, Mbagbera, Vandikiya Local Government Area of Benue State, was reportedly disrupted by hoodlums on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
The incident occurred shortly after the service ended. Senator Emmanuel Memga Udende, representing Benue North-East Senatorial District, had attended the event to give thanks to God and support the development of the church. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Orgem Iorngaem, the senator described his presence as a gesture of gratitude and solidarity.
During the service, the church’s General Superintendent, Pastor Peter Terhemba Kparevde, urged leaders to promote peace, inclusiveness in governance, and to lead with the fear of God, noting that true leadership comes from divine appointment.
According to the senator’s aide, the disruption took place after Senator Udende had already left the venue. A group of individuals, reportedly arriving in about five Benue Links buses, stormed the premises, chanting political slogans, destroying canopies, and scattering plastic chairs used for the programme.
The thanksgiving service was organized in honour of Dr. Pius Akutah Gbongbon, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and a 2027 governorship aspirant.
Social media posts and video clips circulating online have sparked outrage, with commentators describing the invasion of a sacred space as unacceptable. Many expressed disappointment that political differences could lead to violence inside a place of worship, especially under a governor who is himself a Catholic priest—Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia—raising questions about the state of peace, tolerance, and respect for religious sanctuaries in Benue.
No official statement has been issued by the Benue State Government, the police, or the church leadership confirming arrests, injuries, or the full circumstances of the disruption. The incident has reignited concerns over the intersection of politics and religion in the state, with calls for authorities to investigate and ensure such occurrences do not recur.
