Pope Leo XIV has offered special prayers for victims of the fresh massacre in Benue State, where over 200 people were reportedly slaughtered in an attack on rural communities by the Terrorist Group Herdsmen.
Delivering his remarks just before the Sunday Angelus prayer, the Pope described the violence as particularly devastating, noting that most of the victims were internally displaced persons sheltered by a local Catholic mission in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area.
The pontiff said, “On the night of the 13th/14th June, in the town of Yelwata in the Guma Local Government Area in Benue State in Nigeria. A terrible massacre occurred in which around 200 people were killed with extreme cruelty. Most of whom were internally displaced persons hosted by the local catholic mission.”
Showing deep concern for Nigeria, he prayed for peace and security in the country and emphasized on the Openness of rural Christian communities in Benue.
The Pope said,” I pray that security, justice, and peace will prevail in Nigeria, a beloved country so affected by various forms of violence.
“And I pray in a special way for the rural Christian communities in Benue State, who have been unceasingly the victims of violence.”
Pope Leo XIV also prayed for victims of ongoing conflicts in Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, and the Middle East during the Angelus address.
