The Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria has strongly condemned the ongoing wave of killings in Benue State and issued a stern call for the federal government to act swiftly to stop what it described as an unfolding national tragedy.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and co-signed by Acting National President Martins Braimah and National Secretary-General Dame Chisara Egwim-Chima, the Council declared that Benue had become Nigeria’s “sacrificial ground,” echoing similar remarks by the Catholic Secretariat and Vatican observers.

“The valley of blood has reopened in Nigeria, and Benue State is at its centre,” the Council stated. “The government cannot continue to look away while innocent lives are lost, families displaced, and communities shattered.”

Citing Pope Leo XIII’s teachings on human dignity and peace, the Council urged the government to prioritise justice and security over political or tribal loyalties. It described the killings as a stain on Nigeria’s conscience and a test of the nation’s leadership.

“The time has come to act. The lives of Nigerians must matter more than political calculations,” the statement read.

The Council outlined a five-point action plan, urging the immediate deployment of security forces to affected areas, the creation of conflict-resolution mechanisms, the provision of medical and humanitarian aid to victims, the passage of laws to protect vulnerable communities, and the involvement of local voices in shaping security and resettlement policies.

It also called on Catholic faithful and Nigerians at large to rise above silence and apathy. “This is a national call to conscience. We must unite in advocating peace and holding our leaders accountable.”

Benue State has witnessed repeated attacks on farming communities in recent months, with hundreds reportedly killed or displaced, prompting criticism of federal inaction and rising demands for justice.