₦airaland Forum

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, News360 Nigeria reports.

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.”

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.

agulion:
Is the Muslim Muslim ticket that is killing Nigeria Christians with the help of Nigeria security men, this is still part of the islamation agenda, even most of us Yoruba Muslims knew it, but there is nothing we can do about it,

SeunStat:
I think benue people are not waking up, pick up arms, defend yourself

Trustmea:
And the Governor is even a priest

agulion:
Is the Muslim Muslim ticket that is killing Nigeria Christians with the help of Nigeria security men, this is still part of the islamation agenda, even most of us Yoruba Muslims knew it, but there is nothing we can do about it,

pepericozi:
Islamisation of Nigeria in progress. People predicted it and it is coming to play.
.

Ebinpawo1:
Sometimes I just wonder the kind of youths we have in this Benue State.

agulion:
, hard it been that is the Muslims that is been killed like this the Nigeria security could have known what to do, this is the fruit of Muslim Muslim ticket, unfortunately everybody pretends not to know about the Religious cleansing going on in Benue state, very soon yoruba Muslims will tell the statistics or ratio of Muslims and Chris in the country

Parydelegate:
So sad...

May their souls rest in peace.

The Government need to do better in the area of security.

crossfm:
Nigerian politicians are very wicked and selfish people.

They watch on as genocide is been committed before them and nothing is been done.

These blood suckers are more interested in 2027. They are busy defecting to APC, while Nigeria is on fire.

If Nigeria is a serious country, APC as a political party would not have the temerity to be talking about 2027 at all.

The main aim of any responsible government is the protection of lives of her citizens,but the government of the day have failed woefully and these evil men are busy talking about how to remain in power.

Another troubling thing I have noticed is the resounding silence from christians in the south. Their silence is so loud.

Nobody is speaking up as it should be,I guess the fear of the emperor is the beginning of wisdom to Christians today. They want to look good before the powers that be.
They should not forget that what goes around comes around.

DLifeless1:
Islam has done it again, allah kubar!

NewHe:
No sense! What's the solution?

GanagiBitrus:
Imagine if it was the other way round with all the violence against Islam & with 15 mosques shut.

The entire country would probably have been on fire🔥 by now.

Highways:
Where Are The Cows? Is Evans A Herdsman?'


When Funke Olakurin, daughter of Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti was murdered instead of Bola Tinubu to make sure that the perpetrators were brought to book, he ended up making fun of the death of the young lady by turning everything into tribalism by showing his hates for Igbos.


Tinubu has never spoken against the deadly activities of Fulani herdsmen across the country

The same stand Adeyinka Grandson gave on the death of Fasoranti's daughter is where Tinubu, the leader of the Yoruba Conservatives stands. Please see Tinubu's video below. pic.twitter.com/COhiSvabqW

— Adeyinka Grandson (@deyinkagrandson) July 14, 2019

Mrs Olakunrin died of gunshot wounds in July 2019 after her vehicle was attacked by armed men, suspected to be marauding Fulani bandits whose violent activities had reached a frightening level across the southwest states.


Those arrested suspects include Lawal Mazaje, 40, from Felele area of Kogi State; Adamu Adamu, 50, from Jada area of Adamawa State; Mohammed Usman, 26, from Illela area of Sokoto State and Auwal Abubakar, 25, from Shinkafi area of Zamfara State....

However, the leader of the team, identified only as Tambaya, and three others are yet to be found.

Tambaya has been declared wanted by the police and he is said to be capable of communicating in Hausa, Fulfude and Pidgin English.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/388382-afenifere-police-speak-on-arrest-of-alleged-killers-of-fasorantis-daughter.html

DeltaOil:
break up of Nigeria

anonimi:
“The worst illiterate is the political illiterate, he doesn’t hear, doesn’t speak, nor participates in the political events.

He doesn’t know the cost of life, the price of the bean, of the fish, of the flour, of the rent, of the shoes and of the medicine, all depends on political decisions. The political illiterate is so stupid that he is proud and swells his chest saying that he hates politics.

The slowpoke doesn’t know that, from his political ignorance is born the prostitute, the abandoned child, and the worst thieves of all, the bad politician, corrupted and flunky of the national and multinational companies.”

― Bertolt Brecht