Pope Leo Mourns Benue Massacre, Prays For Rural Christian Communities
Pope Leo XIV has expressed deep sorrow and offered prayers for Christian communities in Benue State following a deadly attack that left over 200 people dead in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area.
The newly elected head of the Roman Catholic Church described the killings, which occurred between June 13 and 14, as a “massacre with extreme cruelty.”
In a statement released from the Vatican, Pope Leo said, “I pray that security, justice and peace will prevail in Nigeria, a beloved country afflicted by various forms of violence. And I pray in particular for the rural Christian communities of Benue State, who are incessant victims of violence.”
He also noted that many of the victims were internally displaced persons taking refuge at a local Catholic mission.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Government has assured that it is actively working with federal security agencies, traditional rulers and stakeholders to improve security in vulnerable areas.
According to the government, more tactical units from the Federal Government have started arriving, with additional security deployments underway.
“Response Squad Teams are also deployed and will be in Benue from Sunday. Strategic community dialogues are ongoing to enhance active intelligence sharing,” the state said in a statement on Sunday.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
