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See How Pope Leo Reacted to the Benue Massacre That Claimed 200 Lives
Pope Leo offered heartfelt prayers on Sunday for the victims of the Yelwata massacre in Nigeria’s Benue State, condemning the violence that reportedly left around 200 people dead.
Addressing the tragedy just before the Angelus prayer on June 15, the Pope described the killings as a “terrible massacre,” expressing deep sorrow over the lives lost in the attack, which began late Friday, June 13, and continued into the early hours of Saturday, June 14.
The violence, allegedly carried out by suspected herdsmen, targeted Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area, where many of the victims were internally displaced persons (IDPs) being housed by a local Catholic mission.
“I am thinking especially of the rural Christian communities of Benue State, who have been relentless victims of violence,” the Pope said.
He offered prayers for “security, justice, and peace in Nigeria,” drawing attention to the worsening state of insecurity, especially in central and northern regions of the country where community clashes and violent attacks have intensified in recent months.
Watch the video:
Pope Leo’s remarks come amid growing international concern about the escalating violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt. The Pope’s public recognition of the tragedy is likely to add pressure on Nigerian authorities to take decisive action.
On Saturday, Amnesty International Nigeria released a statement urging the Nigerian government to “immediately end the almost daily bloodshed in Benue State and bring the actual perpetrators to justice.”
So far, official statements from federal authorities have been limited, while local sources continue to report widespread displacement and rising fear among rural communities.
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