Benue On Fire, Dozens Feared Killed, Churches Shut Down
The Diocesan Priests Association, Makurdi Diocese, has condemned the attack on the Priest in charge of St John‘s Quasi Parish, Jimba, Rev Fr Solomon Atongu, as well as the coordinated violence unleashed on seven communities that left over 50 people dead, with 15 Churches closed.
This is even as the chairman of the Diocesan Priests, Rev Fr Joseph Beba Jr, informed that three Catholic Priests in the Diocese, including the Priest in charge of the mission at Aondoana, Rev Fr. Peter Shima, Fr Jonathan Ukuma Yelwata, and Fr Felix Nyinya from Mbalom, as well as Claretian sisters who fled their parishes into the bush for safety, are yet to recover from the trauma.
The Priests said, “We call on our brother, the governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, to use the overwhelming mandate he received from the masses and stop the ethnic cleansing of Tiv people by these terrorists’ herdsmen.”
The chairman who disclosed this during a press conference in Makurdi after the celebration of World Communication Day at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral, explained that over 15 Catholic Churches in Makurdi the Diocese are currently under siege, describing the attacks and killings as inhumane, barbaric, and a gross violation of the sanctity and dignity of human life.
He said, “We have observed with dismay the low energy displayed by our Nigerian army stationed at some of these affected areas. We also regret to say that their inability to stop the attacks or go after the terrorists betrays professionalism, and this speaks to complicity.
“We therefore call on our brother, the governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, to use the overwhelming mandate he received from the masses and stop the ethnic cleansing of Tiv people by these terrorists’ herdsmen.”
According to the clergy, „Failure to be decisive in coordinating and directly confronting these terrorists and their masterminders to bring to an end the persistent bloodshed and injustice on his weak and defenceless masses in the villages, would be seen as indifference or insensitivity „To be silent is to die twice.” His victory is our victory, and his failure is our failure, so we make bold advice.
“We urgently call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare total war against the terrorists, who Governor Hyacinth Alia has earlier identified as non-Nigerians, but have besieged Benue and Nigeria, and continue to undermine the country‘s integrity”
The attack and shooting of Rev. Fr. Solomon Atongo on the 24th May 2025 took place 3 Kilometers away from Naka, and less than 500meters away from the army checkpoint at Tse Orbiam, and another one later, on the community itself without any help or intervention from the army despite several cries for help from the villagers”
The Priests described the recent sustained attacks and killings of Catholic Priests and the destruction of Churches as a direct attack on the Bishop of the Diocese, His Lordship, Most Reverend. Wilfred Anagbe and the Catholic Church he represents, and we believe they were coordinated in response to the bishop’s testimony in the US and Europe on the systematic persecution of Christians in Benue and Nigeria.
They said, „This is proof beyond doubt that the Ahume and Jimba communities were attacked the following day, 25th May. Later in the evening, Aondoana village, the hometown of the Catholic Bishop of Makurdi, Most Rev. Wilfred Anagbe, was also invaded, and the Priest in charge of the mission and all the reverend sisters fled for safety.
The attacks continued on 26th May at Nagi-Camp, just five kilometres from a Nigerian Army base in Agagbe. This time, too, there was no response from the army. They added that all of these are in the Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.
He said, „Late in the night of 26th May, another devastating attack was unleashed on Yelewata community of Guma Local Government area by these same marauders resulting in the death of three members of one family and several others injured and displaced, including the priest in charge of the Mission in the area, Rev. Fr. Jonathan Ukuma bringing the total to three in a roll of Catholic Priests in Makurdi Diocese who had to escape assassination attempts by these Fulani herdsmen terrorists in just three days“
‚Despite the scale of violence, deaths and displacement of people from their ancestral homes by these terrorists, no arrests have been made, the governor and the government have not visited to offer hope, consolation and show concern and solidarity; not even the Catholic Bishop whose village and priests were attacked and shot by these Marauders has been visited. This attitude raises grave suspicions and concerns about complicity and abandonment.
