Nigeria - Two priests killed during morning Mass - the International community remains silent

Gwer West LG, Benue state, Nigeria

Christian Solidarity Worldwide: "Mervyn Thomas, Chief Executive of Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), said: “This cowardly attack on people who had merely gathered to worship constitutes a gross violation of the right to freedom of religion or belief."

"Two Catholic priests were killed during morning Mass when Mbalom village in Gwer West Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, Nigeria, was attacked in the early hours of 24 April by members of the Fulani herder militia.

Parish Priest Father Joseph Gor and Father Felix Tyolaha died in the attack, by around 30 militia men on St Ignatius’ Catholic Church in the St. Ignatius Quasi Parish of Makurdi Diocese, that also claimed the lives of 17 parishioners and left an unknown number of people injured. Many villagers fled into the bush as the militia men fired indiscriminately, burning down around 73 homes and destroying food stores.

In a statement confirming the deaths, Rev Father Moses Iorapuu, the director of communications of Makurdi Diocese, said the local population was "asking why the International community has remained silent over the massacre of Benue citizens" and  described the targeting of  the priests as amounting to  the “total destruction of everything we stand for and believe in, as a people. ---

From 1-7 April, 140 people died in armed violence, a third of them in militia-related attacks in Benue and Taraba states. During the week beginning 8 April, at least 51 people were killed in militia attacks in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states.

CSW: "Nigerian priest killed during morning mass" (25 April, 2018) full text:
http://www.csw.org.uk/2018/04/25/news/3936/article.htm




Foto: KL