To be Silent is to Die Twice – Catholic Priests Cry Out Over Attacks on Makurdi Diocese, Seeks Gov’t Intervention
Makurdi Diocese of the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCDPA), has cried out to the Government for immediate intervention over continued deadly attacks by armed herdsmen on their churches in Benue State.
The Chairman, Revd. Fr. Joseph Beba, who raised this concern during a press conference on Sunday, revealed that not less than 50 were already killed in those attacks leading to the close down of 15 Catholic parishes all within one month as their priests were also killed.
Fr. Beba listed the communities that fell victims under the Diocese; Tse Orbiam, Ahume, Jimba, Nagi-Camp, Aondoana, Yelewata, and Abegana.
He also recounted how Revd. Fr. Solomon Atongo, the priest in charge of St. John’s Quasi Parish, Jimba was reportedly shot just 500 meters from a military checkpoint at Tse Orbiam.
The priest lamented that no Military personnel stationed at the place where the incident happened responded to them, alleging that the attacks are all calculated and coordinated efforts to wipe out Tiv communities.
Beba emphasized that they feel abandoned and neglected needing urgent intervention.
He called on Governor Hyacinth Alia to take a decisive action against the effort to wipe out TIV people demanding President Tinubu to declare full-scale war on the terrorist elements whom Governor Alia identified as foreign invaders.
He urged the Government under him (Tinubu) to compensate the victims of the attacks and bring displaced person’s back to their father lands.
They stated that the assaults on the aforementioned areas have resulted in numerous deaths, including women, children, and even a pregnant woman accusing the military personnels in all the affected areas of complicity and inaction.
“These acts are inhumane, barbaric, and a gross violation of the sanctity and dignity of human life.
“These attacks are a direct assault on the Bishop of Makurdi Diocese and the Catholic Church he represents. They appear coordinated and retaliatory. The bishop’s home village of Aondoana was also attacked on May 25, with clergy and nuns fleeing into the bush for safety.
“We are not sure whose side the military is on. Their behavior raises serious suspicions of complicity,” the cleric stated.
To Governor Alia, the priests said;
“Failure to act decisively will be seen as indifference or complicity. To be silent is to die twice.”
They also reaffirmed commitment to the gospel, noting that they would not be silenced no matter how much they are killed.
The cleric also encouraged Nigerian youths to get ready to defend their faith, farmlands, and communities within the bounds of the law.
