Insecurity: 15 Catholic churches closed in Benue — Priest

No fewer than 15 parishes in Makurdi Catholic Diocese have been shut down following the incessant attacks on communities within the diocese by suspected armed herders.

This was disclosed on Sunday by the Chairman of Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association, Makurdi Diocese, Rev. Fr. Joseph Beba, while addressing journalists at the Catholic Cathedral, Makurdi, on the devastating effects of suspected herders’ attacks on the state and the church as a whole.

The priest who listed communities attacked in the past two weeks to include Tse Orbiam, Ahume, Jimba, Nagi-Camp, Aondoana, Yelewata, and Abegana, said that over 50 people, including women and children, were killed.

Fr Beba alleged that the spike in attacks and killings in the past two weeks in the state, particularly, Gwer West LGA, was not unconnected to the Makurdi Catholic bishop’s testimony in the US and Europe on the systematic persecution of Christians in Benue and Nigeria.

The priest accused the military and other security operatives deployed to the state of not tackling the escalating insecurity, stressing that some of the attacks were carried out a few meters away from the military checkpoints.

The Rev Fr said, “More than 15 parishes have been shut down because the host communities have been sacked. Communities like Jiba, Mabalom Yelwata, and Aondona that were sacked by armed herders, the parishioners, and the priests are no longer there, all these are in Makurdi diocese.

He added, “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 of complicity.

The attack and shooting of Revd Fr. Solomon Atongo on the 24th May 2025 took place 3 Kilometers away from Naka, and less than 500meters away from the army check point 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.

“These attacks are a direct attack on Bishop Wilfred Anagbe and the Catholic Church he represents. 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.

While calling on President Bola Tinubu and the state governor, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia, to declare war on the armed herders, stating that the state governor had already identified the killers as non-Nigerians.

The priest also called on youths in the state “to be prepared to defend their faith, their farmlands, and their way of life. The right to self-defence is an inalienable one for all citizens.”