More than 15 parishes under the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi in Benue State have been forced to shut down following a surge in violent attacks by suspected armed herdsmen, resulting in mass displacement and loss of lives.

 

The disclosure was made on Sunday by Rev. Fr. Joseph Beba, Chairman of the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCDPA), Makurdi Diocese, during a press briefing at the Catholic Cathedral in Makurdi.

 

Fr. Beba reported that the affected parishes span communities such as Tse Orbiam, Ahume, Jimba, Nagi-Camp, Aondoana, Yelewata, and Abegana—areas that have experienced coordinated assaults over the past two weeks. More than 50 residents, including women and children, were reportedly killed in the violence.

 

“Over 15 parishes have been shut down because their host communities have been completely displaced,” Fr. Beba stated. “In locations like Jimba, Mbalom Yelwata, and Aondoana, both priests and parishioners have fled for their lives.”

 

He linked the uptick in attacks—particularly in Gwer West Local Government Area—to recent international testimonies by the Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Most Rev. Wilfred Anagbe, who had spoken in the United States and Europe about the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

 

“These attacks are not isolated incidents. They are clearly retaliatory actions in response to Bishop Anagbe’s advocacy abroad,” Fr. Beba asserted. “The Church is under siege.”

 

Fr. Beba also condemned the Nigerian military for what he described as a troubling lack of response, even when attacks occurred near military checkpoints. He cited the case of Rev. Fr. Solomon Atongo, who was assaulted on May 24, 2025, just three kilometres from Naka and within 500 metres of an army checkpoint at Tse Orbiam—with no intervention from security forces.

 

Expressing deep concern, he called on President Bola Tinubu and Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia to take decisive action. “We urge the Federal and State governments to declare war on these armed herders,” he said, noting that Governor Alia had previously acknowledged that many of the attackers are non-Nigerians.

 

Fr. Beba further appealed to youths in the affected areas to remain vigilant and defend their communities:

“The right to self-defence is inalienable. We call on our young people to be ready to defend their faith, their farmlands, and their way of life.”