Fulani Gunmen Attack Benue Catholic Church, Burn Parish Buildings in Alleged Coordinated Assault

Armed Fulani herdsmen have launched a violent attack on St. Paul’s Parish, Aye-Twar (Agu Centre), in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, sparking widespread condemnation and renewed calls for urgent government intervention.

A local resident confirmed the assault, urging security agencies and relevant authorities to act swiftly to protect lives and property in the embattled community.

In a strongly worded statement, the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests’ Association (NCDPA) of Katsina-Ala Diocese described the incident as a “genocidal attack” on both the Church and the broader Aye-Twar community.

Signed by NCDPA Chairman, Rev. Fr. Samuel Fila, the statement detailed the extent of the destruction: the church was shut down entirely, the rectory was set ablaze, the parish secretariat was vandalized, and pastoral vehicles and household items were completely destroyed.

The priests revealed that this attack is the latest in a string of assaults that have plagued the Aye-Twar community, forcing the parish priest to relocate and limiting pastoral activities in the area. They further disclosed that all 26 outstations under the parish are now under the control of the armed group, leaving the entire Agu Centre community deserted due to fear of continued violence.

“This is no longer the narrative of farmer-herder conflicts,” the statement read. “It is a premeditated, well-coordinated effort aimed at genocidal cleansing, territorial domination, and occupation of lands that rightfully belong to us.”

The NCDPA called on government and security agencies to take decisive action to restore peace and ensure the protection of religious institutions and local communities facing such threats.