Over 200 Christians Killed in Benue Massacre as Nigeria Faces Rising Ethnic Violence

Armed militants, believed to be Fulani herders, reportedly stormed an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp hosted by a Catholic mission, opening fire on sleeping families and setting their homes ablaze.

Survivors described scenes of horrific violence, including the burning alive of children and the use of machetes against those who tried to flee. The attack took place between Saturday night and early Sunday morning. Initial estimates by state officials put the death toll at 150, but Vatican officials and other sources have raised that number to over 200 fatalities.

“It was hell. We were sleeping and suddenly heard gunfire. Then screaming. Then fire,” said a survivor, currently being treated in a makeshift clinic.

Victims Were Mostly Displaced Persons

The victims had previously fled violence in nearby regions and were seeking refuge under the protection of a Catholic mission. According to the Vatican, most of the deceased were internally displaced people, many of whom had already suffered through prior attacks in Plateau and Kaduna states.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that more than 6,500 people across 1,000 households were affected by the attack. Aid groups are now rushing to provide emergency relief, though access to the area remains challenging due to ongoing insecurity and the destruction of infrastructure.

Religious and Ethnic Tensions Escalate

Benue State lies within Nigeria’s volatile Middle Belt, a region that has witnessed decades of deadly clashes between nomadic, predominantly Muslim Fulani herders and settled Christian farming communities.

The roots of this conflict lie in competition over land and water, worsened by the effects of climate change, population growth, and weakening state security presence. As Fulani groups migrate further south in search of grazing land, tensions with local communities have often turned violent.

“This is not just a local issue. It's a national crisis that must be addressed at the highest level,” said Sam Ode, the Deputy Governor of Benue State.

Vatican and International Reactions

Pope Leo XIV, speaking from Vatican City on Sunday, condemned the “terrible massacre” and offered prayers for the victims. He highlighted the disproportionate suffering of rural Christian communities in Nigeria, calling for justice, security, and peace in what he described as a “beloved but wounded land.”

International humanitarian groups, including Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) and Human Rights Watch, are calling for an independent investigation into the killings and urging the Nigerian federal government to act decisively to protect vulnerable communities.

There has been no official claim of responsibility, and no arrests have been made as of Tuesday afternoon.

Humanitarian Crisis Unfolding

Thousands have fled the area in the wake of the massacre, taking shelter in overcrowded camps lacking food, clean water, and medical supplies. Local NGOs warn that without swift intervention, the humanitarian situation could deteriorate rapidly.

“We are witnessing the displacement of entire communities,” said one NEMA official. “Most of the survivors are traumatized women and children.”

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is reportedly assessing the situation, though security concerns are slowing access.

Calls for Global Attention

While Nigeria has long struggled with insurgencies in the northeast (notably Boko Haram), violence in the Middle Belt has often gone underreported on the global stage. Analysts warn that the failure to address these intercommunal conflicts could lead to further destabilization.

African Union observers have not yet commented on the massacre, though multiple West African nations are expected to raise the issue at the upcoming ECOWAS emergency security summit.

Conclusion

The Yelewata massacre marks one of the deadliest attacks on Christians in Nigeria in recent years, renewing urgent calls for justice, accountability, and comprehensive security reform. As the world watches conflicts unfold from Ukraine to the Middle East, Africa’s silent crises must not be overlooked.

“Let justice and peace reign in Nigeria,” Pope Leo XIV said in his Sunday address. “Violence must not have the final word.”