The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has condemned the brutal killings in Benue State and urged immediate action to secure lives and restore peace.
In a statement on Friday, CBCN President, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, called on the Benue State and Federal Governments to go beyond rhetoric and take decisive, sustained action to end the carnage.
“These cold-blooded attacks on defenceless communities—where lives are lost, homes destroyed, and families left in anguish—are an affront to God and a stain on our humanity,” he said.
Ugorji noted that there is no justification for the continued bloodletting in Benue and across Nigeria. He described the attacks as a grave moral and constitutional failure under the watch of civil authorities.
While acknowledging the Benue State Government’s efforts in infrastructure development, improved transportation, and timely salary payments, Ugorji emphasized that these achievements mean little if lives are not protected.
“No matter how well a government pays salaries or builds roads, its failure to protect human life renders its achievements hollow,” he said. “The sanctity of human life is supreme and inviolable.”
He called for the identification, arrest, and prosecution of the perpetrators, urging security agencies to end the culture of impunity and respond with professionalism and compassion.
“Every death in such circumstances is a national tragedy and a scandal against our common humanity,” he added.
The CBCN also expressed deep sorrow over the recent flood disaster in Mokwa, Niger State, which led to significant loss of life and displacement.
Ugorji called for urgent, coordinated relief and long-term rehabilitation for affected communities. While commending the government’s initial response, he urged more comprehensive action to alleviate suffering and rebuild affected areas.
He also encouraged authorities to adopt preventive strategies to mitigate future disasters and protect vulnerable populations.
“To the bereaved, displaced, and wounded, we extend our deepest sympathy and spiritual solidarity. May Christ’s mercy bring rest to the departed and comfort to those who suffer,” Ugorji said.
