June 17, 2025 – A horrific massacre in Yelewata, a town in Benue State, Nigeria, has left over 200 Christians dead, many of them burned beyond recognition or shot in a brutal overnight attack on June 13. The victims, primarily internally displaced persons (IDPs) seeking refuge in a Catholic mission, were targeted in what religious and humanitarian leaders are calling a deliberate act of persecution.

The Attack: A Night of Terror

Eyewitnesses reported that armed militants, suspected to be Fulani jihadists, stormed Yelewata, first attacking the local Catholic mission where IDPs were sheltering. When met with resistance from police stationed there, the assailants shifted their focus to the town’s market, where many displaced families had taken shelter in makeshift stores.

Father Jonathan Ukuma, the priest in charge of the Yelewata mission, described the scene as "traumatizing," with bodies recovered in heaps and some victims burned to ashes. Among the dead was a staff member of the Foundation for Justice Development and Peace (FJDP), a local Christian humanitarian organization.

Government Inaction and Failed Security Promises

The attack occurred just one day after Nigerian President Bola Tinubu renewed his pledge to protect citizens and combat terrorism. Yet, survivors and local leaders say security forces were absent or ineffective.

Amnesty International Nigeria condemned the government’s failure, demanding an immediate end to the "almost daily bloodshed" in Benue State and calling for perpetrators to be brought to justice.

Global Condemnation and Papal Intervention

Pope Leo XIV broke tradition by dedicating his Sunday Angelus prayer to the victims, marking the first time a pope has directly addressed the persecution of Nigerian Christians. His words sparked international attention, prompting President Tinubu to announce a visit to Benue—though critics question the sincerity of the move.

Bishop Joseph Strickland of the U.S. issued a fiery statement, declaring:
"This was not merely a tragedy. It was a targeted massacre of innocent Christians... How long, O Lord? How long will the world remain silent as the blood of martyrs cries out from the soil of Africa?"

Controversy Over Bishop Anagbe’s Exclusion

Adding to the outrage, Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi—a key advocate for Benue’s persecuted Christians—was excluded from Tinubu’s meeting protocol. Anagbe, whose diocese has been at the epicenter of attacks, previously testified before the U.S. Congress and European leaders, drawing global attention to Nigeria’s Christian genocide.

His village, Aondona, was raided by jihadists after his testimony, leaving over 50 dead. Two priests from his diocese were also murdered in 2018. Many see his exclusion as a deliberate attempt to silence the truth.

A Call to Action

Christian leaders worldwide are demanding:

1. Immediate military intervention to protect vulnerable communities.

2. International sanctions on Nigerian officials complicit in the violence.

3. Humanitarian aid for survivors, many of whom remain without government support.

Father Moses Iorapuu, in a reflection on the tragedy, urged resilience:
"Suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope. But hope without action is empty. The world must not look away."

As the death toll rises and mass burials begin, the question remains: Will Nigeria’s government finally act, or will the world continue to watch in silence?

Catholic Star Newspaper | June 17, 2025
Follow updates on the crisis at cdmakurdi.org