Fresh Bloodbath In Benue As Suspected Herdsmen Murder Priests, Worshippers In Cathedral And Other Newspaper Headlines Today

There were protests yesterday in Benue State over the killing of 17 worshippers and 2 priests at the St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Ukpor-Mbalom Parish, Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State.

THE PUNCH, VANGUARD, TRIBUNE, SUN, NEW TELEGRAPH, DAILY INDEPENDENT, GUARDIAN all make the sad event leaving anguish and sorrow on the people the catch of their front-pages.

The papers report that also among the victims were two school head teachers and a secondary school principal, identified as Peter Dick, Ape Chia and Michael Tor, respectively.

They say that while the corpses of the victims were being driven to town, a large number of youths took over the major roads and streets, including the busy Makurdi/Gboko, Makurdi/Kafia, as well as the Wurukum Roundabout.

The irate youths also set bonfires on major streets in Makurdi metropolis. All the major markets including Makurdi Modern Market, Wurukum Market, Wadata Market and High Level Market, as well as commercial banks and schools were shut

The President, Muhammadu Buhari while commiserating said “This latest assault on innocent persons is particularly despicable. The attack is “vile, evil and satanic. Violating a place of worship, killing priests and worshippers is not only vile, evil and satanic, it is clearly calculated to stoke up religious conflict and plunge our communities into endless bloodletting.”

THE NATION also reports the story but leads with Buhari Backs Oshiomhole for APC National Chairman as Okorocha says 24 Governors are supporting President’s second term bid.

Okorocha after the meeting said governors communicated their support for the President’s reelection.

He said: “We came to welcome him back and to commend him for his boldness and courage to declare his intention to run for second term as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which we the 24 governors of the APC duly support.  And we have come to encourage him that he must go ahead with his vision.”