Catholic priests in Benue State have expressed concern over the recent devastation and desecration of St Paul’s Parish, Aye-Twar (Agu Centre) in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area (LGA), as well as the occupation of 26 other outstations by armed herders.
The Catholic priests observed that the act did not only constitute an attack against the Church, especially the Diocese of Katsina-Ala, “but a direct assault on government at all levels, the security operatives, the traditional institutions and indeed all stakeholders.”
The Chairman of the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests’ Association (NCDPA), Katsina-Ala Diocese, Rev. Fr Samuel Fila, explained in a statement to reporters in Makurdi that the unprovoked violent attack began on Sunday, August 10, 2025, and resulted in the severe destruction of several facilities in the Central Church at Agu Centre.
He said, “Preceding this assault were other previous sustained attacks on the Aye-Twar community which increased in intensity, thus forcing the parish priest to relocate to another parish while continuing with skeletal pastoral activities.
“The barbaric attack of August 11, 2025, has finally shut down all pastoral activities since all 26 outstations have been occupied by the armed herdsmen long before now.
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“The malevolent attack left in its wake the desecration and destruction of the Parish Church, the destruction of the Parish Secretariat, the burning to ashes of the Father’s House, and the destruction of household items, pastoral logistics and vehicles, in addition to many other valuable items.
“At the moment, the entire Agu Centre community has been deserted by the locals for fear of more attacks. It must be reiterated that Aye-Twar is only one out of innumerable communities that are currently under a sustained invasion by dangerously armed terrorists.
“NCDPA of Katsina-Ala Diocese vehemently denounces the alarming and brutal assaults carried out by the heavily armed herdsmen militia groups, especially on August 11, without any intervention by either the government or security agencies.”
Fr Fila emphasised that the security situation in the area had evolved beyond the twisted historical narrative of ‘farmer-herder conflicts’, stating that “it has evolved into a premeditated, well-calculated and coordinated effort aimed at genocidal cleansing and territorial domination and the occupation of lands that rightly belong to us.”
He revealed that the marauders launch their attacks from Taraba State’s bordering areas before retreating to their original locations.
“The continuous attacks on Christian communities, albeit unprovoked, and in particular the unchecked violence of these terrorist herdsmen, have become a grave wound to our national conscience and existence,” Fila said.
