By Abara Blessing Oluchi
The Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCDPA), Makurdi Diocese, has expressed deep concern over the ongoing deadly attacks by armed herdsmen in Benue State. The association revealed that over 50 lives have been lost and 15 Catholic parishes have been forced to close within the past month.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, the Chairman of NCDPA in Makurdi Diocese, Revd. Fr. Joseph Beba, strongly condemned the wave of violence, describing it as a calculated and coordinated effort to wipe out Tiv communities. He accused security forces, particularly the military stationed in the affected areas, of complicity and inaction.
โAmong those affected are Catholic priests, and this has led to the closure of 15 parishes in Makurdi Diocese alone,โ Fr. Beba said, decrying what he described as the militaryโs silence and passivity while communities were being attacked.
The priests detailed a series of recent attacks, including the shooting of Revd. Fr. Solomon Atongo, the priest in charge of St. Johnโs Quasi Parish, Jimba. Fr. Atongo was reportedly shot just 500 meters from a military checkpoint at Tse Orbiam, with no response from the stationed personnel. The community itself was later attacked.
Leave feedback about this