The Diocesan Priests Association, Makurdi Diocese has condemned the attack on the Priest in charge of St John’s Quasi Parish Jimba, Rev. Fr. Solomon Atongu as well as the coordinated violence unleashed on seven communities that left over 50 people dead, including women and children.
This is even as the Chairman of the Diocesan Priests, Rev. Fr. Joseph Beba Jnr. said three catholic priests in the Diocese including the priest in charge of the mission at Aondoana, Rev Fr. Peter Shima; Fr. Jonathan Ukuma Yelwata and Fr. Felix Nyinya from Mbalom as well as Claretian Sisters who flee their parishes into the bush for safety were yet to recover from the trauma.
“We call on our brother the governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia to use the overwhelming mandate he received from the masses and stop the ethnic cleansing of Tiv people by these terrorists’ herdsmen,” the priests demanded.
The chairman, who stated this during a press conference in Makurdi after the celebration of World Communication Day at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral, explained that over fifteen catholic churches in Makurdi Diocese were currently under siege, describing the attacks and killings as inhumane, barbaric, and a gross violation of the sanctity and dignity of human life.
‘We have observed with dismay the low energy displayed by our Nigerian Army stationed at some of these affected areas. We also regret to say that their inability to stop the attacks or go after the terrorists, betrays professionalism, and this speaks to complicity,” they noted.
The clergy added that the failure on the part of the government to be decisive in coordinating and directly confronting these terrorists and their masterminds to bring an end to persistent bloodshed and injustice on the weak and defenseless masses in the villages, would be seen as indifference or insensitivity “to be silent is to die twice.”
They noted that the Governor’s victory is their victory, and that when he fails, it the church that fails, “that is why we make bold advice.”
The clerics called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently declare total war against the terrorists, “who governor Hyacinth Alia has earlier identified as non-Nigerians, but have besieged Benue and Nigeria, and continues to undermine the country’s integrity”
The priest noted that the shooting of Atongo on May 24th took place 3 kilometers away from Naka, and less than 500meters away from the army checkpoint at Tse Orbiam and another attack later on the community without help or intervention from the army despite several cries for help from the villagers.
The priests described the recent sustained attacks and killings of Catholic priests and destruction of churches as a direct attack on the Bishop of the Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Wilfred Anagbe and the Catholic Church he represents.
“We believe they were coordinated in response to the Bishop’s testimony in the US and Europe on the systematic persecution of Christians in Benue and Nigeria.
“This is a proof beyond doubts, Ahume and
Jimba communities were attacked the following day, 25th May. Later in the evening, Aondoana village, the hometown of the Catholic Bishop of Makurdi, Most Rev. Wilfred Anagbe was also invaded, the Priest in charge of the mission and all the reverend sisters flee for safety,” they said.
The Catholic clerics lamented that the attacks continued on 26th May at Nagi-Camp, just five kilometers from a Nigerian Army base in Agagbe.
“This time too, there was no response from the army. All of these are in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State,” they added.
Also, they added that another devastating attack was launched late in the night of 26th May on Yelewata community of Guma local government area resulting in the death of three members of one family while several others were injured and displaced.
Among them were the priest in charge of the Mission in the area, Rev. Fr. Jonathan Ukuma which brought to three attacks in a roll of Catholic priests in Makurdi Diocese “who had to escape assassination attempts by these Fulani herdsmen terrorists in just three days.”
“Despite the scale of violence, deaths and displacement of people from their ancestral homes by these terrorists, no arrests have been made, the governor and the government have not visited to offer hope, consolation and show concern and solidarity; not even the Catholic Bishop whose village and priests were attacked and shot by these marauders has been visited.
“This attitude raises grave suspicious concerns about complicity and abandonment,” the submitted.
