Pope Leo XIV has offered solemn prayers for Christian communities in Benue State following a brutal attack on the town of Yelewata in Guma, which reportedly left over 200 people dead.
Describing the killings as a “massacre with extreme cruelty”, the Pope expressed particular… pic.twitter.com/lvevbls0J3
— The Guardian Nigeria (@GuardianNigeria) June 15, 2025
Pope Leo XIV has offered solemn prayers for Christian communities in Benue State following a brutal attack on the town of Yelewata in Guma, which reportedly left over 200 people dead.
Describing the killings as a “massacre with extreme cruelty”, the Pope expressed particular concern for the fact that most of the victims were internally displaced persons being sheltered by a local Catholic mission.
“I pray that security, justice and peace will prevail in Nigeria, a beloved country afflicted by various forms of violence,” he said. “And I pray in particular for the rural Christian communities of Benue State, who are incessant victims of violence.”
The killings, which occurred between June 13 and 14, have triggered nationwide outrage, with many Nigerians accusing the federal government of silence and selective empathy. Critics pointed out that President Bola Tinubu offered condolences to India over a plane crash on the same day, but has yet to comment publicly on the massacre in Benue.
Is the Nigerian government doing enough to protect vulnerable communities?