Herders attacks: Catholic shuts 15 Benue parishes

Armed herder

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

This was disclosed on Sunday by the Chairman of the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association, Makurdi Diocese, Rev Fr Joseph Beba, while addressing journalists at the Catholic Cathedral, Makurdi.

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

“More than 15 parishes have been shut down because the host communities have been sacked by armed herders.

“For communities like Jiba, Mabalom Yelwata and Aondona, the parishioners and the priests are no longer there, all these are in Makurdi diocese,” he said.

The cleric alleged that the spike in attacks and killings over the past two weeks, particularly in Gwer West Local Government Area, was not unconnected to the Makurdi Catholic bishop’s testimony in the United States and Europe about the systematic persecution of Christians in Benue and Nigeria.

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