Pope Leo has condemned the brutal killing of over 200 people in the Yelewata community of Guma Local Government Area in Benue State, describing the incident as a “terrible massacre.”
Speaking during his Sunday Angelus prayer from St. Peter’s Square, the Pope expressed deep sorrow over the attack, which reportedly targeted internally displaced persons (IDPs) seeking refuge at a local Catholic mission.
“I am praying for security, justice, and peace in Nigeria,” the pontiff said. “In a special way, I am thinking of the rural Christian communities of Benue State, who have been relentless victims of violence.”
The massacre is one of the deadliest in a series of herdsmen-related attacks in the state, which has long struggled with conflict between farming communities and armed groups.
The Pope’s remarks have drawn renewed global attention to the ongoing insecurity in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, with calls mounting for urgent intervention and justice for the victims.
