The Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCDPA), Makurdi Diocese, has declared full support for the testimony of the Bishop of Makurdi, Most Rev. Wilfred Anagbe, who recently urged the United States Congress to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over persistent, targeted attacks on Christians in Benue and surrounding states.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Rev. Fr. Joseph Beba, the association said communities in Benue are facing violence that “bears every mark of genocide.”
They insist that the killings are deliberate, systematic, and aimed at displacing native populations and seizing their ancestral lands.
The priests said the scale of destruction is enormous, with more than 20 churches and mission stations destroyed or abandoned due to repeated attacks.
They noted that several priests have been shot, abducted, or killed while carrying out pastoral work, while women, children, and the elderly “have been murdered in their sleep.”
“Entire communities and farmlands have been taken over by armed invaders operating with impunity,” the statement added, noting that thousands of survivors now live in traumatising internally displaced persons’ camps.
The association berated federal and state authorities, accusing them of denial and political convenience rather than decisive action.
“Instead of decisive action, our people are met with explanations that contradict lived realities. This is deeply disappointing. We feel wounded, abandoned, and bitterly betrayed by those entrusted with our safety,” the priests said.
They argued that despite overwhelming evidence from victims and eyewitnesses, the government continues to “downplay the crisis for political reasons.”
Urging immediate intervention, the NCDPA appealed to all levels of government to protect communities under siege, reclaim occupied territories, and restore dignity to displaced persons.
Naijaonpoint reports that the priests also reached out to the global community, insisting that the unfolding humanitarian crisis must not be ignored.
“To the global Catholic Church and all people of conscience, we appeal: do not look away. Continue to prevail on the Nigerian Government to rise to its constitutional duty—stop the killings, protect lives, and allow our people to return home,” Beba stated.
The group vowed to continue raising its voice until justice is restored and displaced communities return home.
“We will keep crying out until every displaced family returns home and every occupied community is liberated. Enough is enough,” the statement concluded.
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