After the massacres that occurred during Holy Week in the states of Plateau and Benue, in Nigeria, which would have left more than 170 dead, a Catholic priest shared a first -hand testimony over mortal attacks, which he attributes to Pastors Fulani.
It was reported that more than 170 Christians were killed during Lent and Holy Week in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria, with at least 72 dead only in the state of Benue during the Pascual Triduum, between April 18 and 20.
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The attacks, allegedly perpetrated by Fulani militants, headed against agricultural Christian communities in the UKUM and Logo counties, which has generated concern about a possible religious persecution and for the inaction of the government in this nation of Western Africa.
In an interview with ACO Africa —Agencia in Africa of the ACI Group-on April 29, Fr. Moses Aondoanenge IgBA, pastor of San José Abyki, in the Diocese of Katsina-Ala, shared his testimony about the horror lived between Holy Thursday and Good Friday.
“It was a massive killing. I would say that they killed more than 70 people at that time. After the attack, people kept their losses. Not finding their missing sisters, sisters or relatives, they looked on the mountain and, guided by the smell, found the bodies in decomposition,” said Igba A ACO Africa.
The priest described the attacks as well organized and systematic: “What happened that Holy Thursday, which I call Black Thursday, and the next day, Black Friday, it was a massive attack and a massive slaughter of innocent people in our communities,” he said.
Referring to previous attacks that occurred during Christian celebrations, the priest attributed the killings repeated to an agenda of Islamization by the perpetrators and their accomplices.
“Let’s not forget the Islamization agenda they have. I wonder why it always happens during Christian parties. Either Christmas or Easter, they come to interrupt our celebrations. It points to an ideology of conquest. It is more than terrorism; it is about land and Islamization occupation,” he explained.
IGBA added that, beyond the religious component, there seems to be an economic objective: paralyze agricultural activities.
“In terms of food security, it seems that they want to destroy what we have for us to go hungry and abandon our lands,” he said, referring to a “destroyed land.”
Despite the danger, the priest decided to remain with his people. He recalled the tragic destiny of some of his parishioners, who sought refuge in the parish house, but they were equally killed.
“One of my parishioners, Mr. Augustine Uzu, was with me on Tuesday of the Chry Mass, when they attacked his village. He fled to the Parish House in search of security,” Igba said.
That same night, Uzu “decided to return to his village to recover some belongings, believing that the danger had already passed. Unfortunately, the attackers Fulani were still there. They caught him and, when he tried to return to the parish, they killed him to machetes and left his remains on the edge of the road.”
IGBA related how he asked a group of people to recover the remains of UZU. “We wait a day and then mobilize some young people to collect their remains. We buried him at night, around 2 am, under the dark, and we return hastily to the parish.”
He also talked about another parishioner who survived a machete attack.
“A young man from my parish was caught by the Fulani. He was ordered to bedtled and then attacked him with machetes, opening his stomach and letting his intestines out. By the grace of God, he survived after being urgently taken to the San Antonio hospital in Zaki Biam. Now he is recovering and can speak and eat,” he said.
Given the increase in violence, the parish has quickly become a refuge place for parishioners and other community members fleeing the attackers, IgBA said ACO AfricaHe added that he chose to stay to offer hope, instead of fleeing.
“I told my people to have value. I refused to flee. I remained in the middle of my people, as a sign of hope for them. When the bullets flew over the church, I stopped under a tree, guiding those who ran towards the parish to go behind the presbytery,” he recalled.
He said that many warned him about the danger, but he remained firm.
“People were afraid and told me that I was risking my life, but I told you: ‘I am a lighthouse of hope for you.’ If I had not been there, people would have fled even further and nobody would have remained in the presbytery,” he said.
Asked about the call to “self -defense”, the 61 -year -old Nigerian priest spoke about the challenges faced by the inhabitants of rural areas, especially before the imbalance in terms of armament.
“Talking about self-defense in rural areas today is almost impossible. War is no longer freed with arches and arrows. These people bring AK-47, AK-49 and even RuncoCohetes. Rural communities cannot match that power of fire,” he said.
IGBA criticized the Nigerian government for what he described as a “double stand” by treating the communities that try to defend themselves. “The communities trying to arm themselves, are labeled as criminals,” he said. “Meanwhile, the government turns a blind eye to the Fulani shepherds who carry illegal weapons and infiltrate villages.”
In the April 29 interview, IGBA urged the faithful not to fall into despair against attacks and related tragedies.
“My message for the faithful is that, whether or not we have human defenders, God is our supreme defender. Especially now that we are in the year of hope, we must not believe that everything is lost. Hope must guide us,” he said, referring to the theme of the 2025 jubilee of the Church.
He encouraged those who cry their loved ones to stand firm. “On Good Friday, during the worship of the cross, I told those present that the suffering of Christ, before a distant reality, has now become our experienced experience.”
“Our brothers and sisters have risen to the cross in a difficult and painful way. Those of us who remain the cross of the pain and betrayal of those who had to protect us,” he said.
Finally, IGBA urged the people of God, caught in this wave of violence, to look beyond the pain towards the hope that takes place in the resurrection.
“After the cross comes the resurrection. We must believe that their deaths will not be in vain,” he told ACO Africa during the April 29 interview.
Translated and adapted by ACI Press. Originally published in ACO Africa.
Abah Anthony John
Abah Anthony John is a Nigerian journalist interested in communication and apostolate through the media. He has a Bachelor of Mass Communication at Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue state, Nigeria. It has extensive experience in print, digital and multimedia production.