More than 15 parishes within the Makurdi Catholic Diocese in Benue State have been forced to shut down following relentless attacks on their host communities by suspected armed herders.
This was revealed on Sunday by Rev. Fr Joseph Beba, Chairman of the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCDPA) in the Makurdi Diocese, during a press briefing at the Catholic Cathedral in Makurdi.
According to Fr Beba, the violence has mainly affected communities such as Tse Orbiam, Ahume, Jimba, Nagi-Camp, Aondoana, Yelewata, and Abegana. In the past two weeks, these areas have experienced coordinated assaults that have led to the deaths of over 50 residents, including women and children.
“More than 15 parishes have been closed because their host communities have been completely displaced. In places like Jimba, Mbalom Yelwata, and Aondoana, both priests and parishioners have fled,” Fr Beba said.
He further alleged that the surge in violence, particularly in Gwer West Local Government Area, was a direct response to the testimony delivered by Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi Diocese in the United States and Europe, where he highlighted the persecution of Christians in Benue and across Nigeria.
“These attacks are not random acts. They are targeted and intended to retaliate against Bishop Anagbe’s international testimony about the systematic persecution of Christians. The Church is under siege,” Fr Beba declared.
He criticized the Nigerian military for its apparent inaction, even in the face of attacks close to their security checkpoints.
“We are deeply concerned by the lack of urgency and response from security forces. For example, the attack on Rev. Fr Solomon Atongo on May 24, 2025, occurred just 3km from Naka and less than 500m from an army checkpoint at Tse Orbiam. Yet, there was no intervention,” he stated.
Fr Beba called on President Bola Tinubu and Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia to declare war on the armed herders, pointing out that Governor Alia had previously identified the attackers as foreign nationals.
He also urged the youth to be vigilant and to defend their communities: “The right to self-defence is inalienable. We urge our young people to be prepared to defend their faith, their farmlands, and their way of life.”
