Catholic priests in Makurdi have raised alarm over relentless herdsmen attacks that have killed over 50 people and shut down 15 parishes in Benue State.
They accuse security forces of complicity and demand urgent government action to stop what they describe as a targeted assault on Tiv communities.
The Catholic Diocesan Priests Association of the Makurdi Diocese has raised strong concerns over the escalating attacks by armed herdsmen in Benue State. According to the association, more than 50 lives have been lost within the past month, and at least 15 Catholic parishes have been forced to shut down due to the ongoing violence.
During a press conference held on Sunday, the Chairman of the association, Reverend Father Joseph Beba, condemned the continuous killings and described the attacks as part of a coordinated effort to eliminate Tiv communities. He accused military forces deployed in the region of doing little to stop the bloodshed and suggested their silence may indicate complicity.
Father Beba stated that several Catholic priests have been affected by the crisis. One of them, Reverend Father Solomon Atongo of St. John’s Quasi Parish in Jimba, was reportedly shot near a military checkpoint at Tse Orbiam. Despite the proximity to military personnel, there was no intervention. That same community was later attacked.
The priests listed other affected areas, including Ahume, Jimba, Nagi-Camp, Aondoana, Yelewata, and Abegana, all within the Makurdi Diocese. Victims of these assaults include women, children, and a pregnant woman. The clergy described the events as cruel and deeply disturbing, emphasizing that the sanctity of human life is being trampled.
They suggested the violence could be linked to the testimonies of Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, who recently spoke in the United States and Europe about the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. On May 25, the bishop’s hometown of Aondoana was attacked, prompting priests and nuns to flee into the forest for safety.
The following day, gunmen invaded Nagi-Camp, just five kilometers from a Nigerian Army base in Agagbe. No military support arrived. The night after, the Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area suffered another brutal attack, where an entire family was killed and Reverend Father Jonathan Ukuma narrowly escaped with his life.
The priests lamented the absence of both federal and state government officials, stating that no visits or official statements have been made to console or assist the affected communities. They expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation, citing the increasing dangers on roads such as Naka-Makurdi and Taraku-Naka.
The association made a direct appeal to Governor Hyacinth Alia, urging him to address what they described as the targeted extermination of the Tiv people. They also called on President Bola Tinubu to take decisive action against the terrorist elements identified by the governor as foreign invaders.
According to the priests, continued silence in the face of these atrocities could be interpreted as indifference. They urged the government to compensate victims and ensure that displaced persons are returned to their ancestral lands.
Reaffirming their mission, the clergy said they will not be silenced. They encouraged Nigerian youths to stand ready to defend their faith, families, and communities through lawful means.
