MAKURDI, BENUE STATE – A chilling wave of violence has forced the closure of at least 15 Catholic parishes within Benue State’s Makurdi Diocese. The grim announcement came Sunday from Rev. Fr Joseph Beba, Chairman of the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCDPA), who blamed relentless attacks by suspected armed herders. These Benue church closures paint a stark picture of communities emptied and lives upended.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Catholic Cathedral in Makurdi, Fr Beba detailed the dire situation: “More than 15 parishes have been shut down because their host communities have been completely displaced. In places like Jimba, Mbalom Yelwata, and Aondoana, both priests and parishioners have fled.” The affected communities, including Tse Orbiam, Ahume, Nagi-Camp, and Abegana, have reportedly suffered over 50 deaths in just two weeks, with women and children among the victims. The continuous herdsmen attacks are creating a devastating humanitarian crisis.
“Church Under Siege”: Attacks Linked to Bishop’s Testimony on Benue Church Closures
Fr Beba drew a disturbing connection between the surge in violence, particularly in Gwer West LGA, and recent international advocacy by Bishop Wilfred Anagbe. Bishop Anagbe had testified in the U.S. and Europe about the persecution of Christians in Benue and Nigeria. The NCDPA believes the timing of escalated Benue herdsmen attacks is no coincidence.
“These attacks are not random. They are a direct response to Bishop Anagbe’s international testimony on the systematic persecution of Christians. The Church is under siege,” Fr Beba declared passionately. He condemned the assaults as calculated acts of terror designed to silence the Church and drive Christian communities from their ancestral lands, leading to these widespread Benue church closures.
By Abiodun Labi
