Pope Leo XIV has strongly denounced the recent mass killing in Benue State, Nigeria, calling it a “terrible massacre” marked by “extreme cruelty.”
Speaking from the Vatican during his Sunday Angelus prayer, the pontiff expressed profound sorrow over the deadly attack that claimed the lives of mostly displaced civilians in Yelwata, a town near the Benue-Nasarawa border.

The Pope called for justice, security, and lasting peace in Nigeria, offering special prayers for the rural Christian communities in Benue State, whom he described as “relentless victims of violence.” He emphasized the urgent need to protect vulnerable populations and end the cycle of bloodshed plaguing the region.
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Local authorities reported that the attack was carried out by over 100 armed assailants, believed to be herdsmen, who stormed Yelwata late Friday night.
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The Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, Maurice Orwough, confirmed the incident, revealing that the attackers initially targeted Daudu but were repelled by the military. They later redirected their assault to Yelwata, overwhelming a small military outpost and opening fire on civilians.

Dozens of residents were killed in the attack, with over 26 others severely injured and hospitalized. The tragedy underscores the escalating insecurity in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and the continued suffering of displaced communities caught in the crossfire.
Pope Leo XIV’s appeal adds to growing international concern over the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria and the urgent need for coordinated efforts to restore peace and protect innocent lives.
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