Herdsmen sack Benue community, destroy Catholic parish in ‘genocidal attack’
Herdsman
Armed Fulani herdsmen have reportedly launched a violent assault on St. Paul’s Parish, Aye-Twar (Agu Centre), in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, leaving the community in ruins.
A resident, who confirmed the incident, appealed to security agencies and relevant authorities to urgently intervene to safeguard lives and property.
In a strongly worded statement, the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests’ Association (NCDPA) of Katsina-Ala Diocese condemned the attack, describing it as a “genocidal” strike against both the Church and the local population.
According to Rev. Fr. Samuel Fila, Chairman of NCDPA, the assailants razed the parish rectory, vandalized the secretariat, destroyed pastoral vehicles, household items, and other valuables, effectively shutting down all church activities.
The association noted that the parish priest had already relocated due to repeated assaults on the Aye-Twar community, leaving only limited pastoral services before the latest incident.
“All 26 outstations are now occupied by the armed group, and the entire Agu Centre community has been deserted by residents fleeing for their lives,” Fr. Fila said.
He stressed that the situation had gone beyond the narrative of farmer-herder clashes, insisting it was “a premeditated, well-coordinated effort aimed at genocidal cleansing, territorial domination, and the occupation of lands that rightfully belong to us.”
As at the time of filing this report, Police has not issued any statement on the incident.
The attack marks yet another escalation in the wave of violence plaguing rural Benue communities in recent years.
