At least 15 Catholic parishes in Benue State have been closed after a wave of deadly attacks on communities within the Makurdi Diocese by suspected armed herdsmen.
The development was revealed on Sunday during a media briefing held at the Catholic Cathedral in Makurdi by the leadership of the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association in the area.
The affected parishes belong to communities that have recently come under violent attacks. Areas such as Tse Orbiam, Ahume, Jimba, Nagi-Camp, Aondoana, Yelewata, and Abegana were listed as some of the locations hit by the attackers in the last two weeks.
According to the Church, these incidents have left more than 50 people dead, including women and children.
Many of the communities now lie deserted as residents, including parish priests and members, have fled for safety.
Parishes in places like Jiba, Mbalom Yelwata, and Aondona no longer have any worshippers or leaders, as the violence has forced both the clergy and the people to abandon their homes and places of worship.
The Church linked the increase in violence, especially in Gwer West Local Government Area, to recent testimonies presented by the Makurdi Catholic Bishop abroad.
The testimonies, which focused on the killing of Christians in Benue and other parts of Nigeria, were shared during visits to the United States and Europe.
The Church said the current attacks may be a form of retaliation or an attempt to silence the voice of the bishop, who has been outspoken about the crisis.
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