Benue Massacre: Pope Leo XIV Condemns Attack, Calls for Justice

International Condemnation Trails Benue Massacre

The Catholic Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, has strongly condemned the recent Benue massacre that left over 200 people dead and displaced more than 6,500 residents in Yelewata community, Guma Local Government Area, Benue State, Nigeria.

 

TJ News Nigeria reports that the attack, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, June 14, 2025, has intensified humanitarian concerns and prompted widespread outrage.

Pope Leo XIV Speaks on Nigeria’s Security Crisis

Speaking during his traditional Sunday Angelus address at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Pope Leo XIV described the killings as “a terrible massacre” and called for security, justice, and peace in Nigeria.

“On the night of 13th to 14th June, a terrible massacre took place in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State in Nigeria, where over 200 people were killed in a cruel manner, most of whom were Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) hosted by the local Catholic mission,” the Pope stated.

The Pontiff offered prayers for victims of the attack and emphasized the need for urgent solutions to the recurring violence in the West African country.

“I pray that peace, security, and justice will prevail in Nigeria, a beloved country affected by various forms of violence.”

TJ News Nigeria learnt that this is not the first time a Pope has intervened over insecurity in Nigeria. The late Pope Francis had also made several appeals during his papacy, notably after the 2022 Owo Church attack in Ondo State.

Rising Death Toll and Humanitarian Emergency

According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), over 100 people were killed, including two soldiers and a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer. The number of casualties is expected to rise due to the volatile security and restricted access to affected areas.

Key figures released by NEMA include:

• 46 injured individuals, 20 of whom later succumbed to their wounds in hospitals.

• 6,527 displaced persons, including vulnerable groups like pregnant women, lactating mothers, children, and the elderly.

Hospitals in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, have issued urgent calls for blood donations as they struggle to cope with the influx of patients.

State Government Initiatives

Reacting to the tragedy, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia announced the formation of a five-member investigative panel mandated to:

• Identify perpetrators and sponsors

• Profile victims for proper documentation

• Produce a White Paper for implementation by the state government

The governor stressed that intelligence gathered from security agencies suggests a coordinated terrorist operation, not isolated farmer-herder clashes as previously speculated.

“This is beyond communal conflicts; it is terrorism,” Alia declared.

Federal Government Response

Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu urged both political and community leaders in Benue to exercise restraint in their public comments and actions to prevent further escalation of violence.

“Responsible leadership is necessary at this critical time to foster peace, unity, and security,” President Tinubu stated.

Growing Concerns Over Terror Tactics

Security analysts continue to warn of the growing sophistication of armed groups operating in Nigeria’s Middle Belt. Reports indicate that the Benue attacks were meticulously planned and executed with guerrilla tactics.

Humanitarian agencies, security experts, and religious leaders now call for decisive actions to curb the escalating violence in the region.