Catholic Priests Raise the Alarm over Burning of Benue Parish, Occupation of 26 Others by Armed Herdsmen

Catholic priests in Benue State are alarmed by the burning of St. Paul Parish in Agu Centre and the occupation of 26 other parishes by armed herdsmen. The priests condemned the attack as a direct assault on the church and the government's security apparatus.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association, Rev. Fr. Samuel Fila, described the violent attack that started on August 10, 2025, as barbaric and called for immediate action from the relevant authorities. The priests demanded that the Benue State Government ensure the security and safety of the people, rebuild the damaged parish, and apprehend the masterminds of the attack.

They also urged the international community to take note of the religious persecution in Nigeria and establish permanent security protocols to protect citizens. The priests emphasized the need for joint investigations and the construction of access roads to facilitate a swift response to security challenges in the area.