In Benue State, no fewer than 15 Catholic parishes under the Makurdi Diocese have been closed following escalating attacks by suspected armed herders on host communities. Rev. Fr. Joseph Beba, Chairman of the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (Makurdi Diocese), made the disclosure during a press briefing, describing the security situation as dire.
Over 50 lives, including women and children, were lost within two weeks in attacks on communities such as Tse Orbiam, Ahume, Jimba, and Yelewata. Fr. Beba attributed the violence to backlash from international advocacy by Bishop Wilfred Anagbe on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. He criticized the Nigerian military’s inaction, citing the near-fatal shooting of Fr. Solomon Atongo near a military checkpoint.
Fr. Beba called on President Bola Tinubu and Governor Hyacinth Alia to declare war on the armed herders and urged Benue youth to prepare for self-defence to protect their lives and faith.
