Pastoral Activities in Several Villages in Benin’s N’Dali Catholic Diocese Suspended after Jihadist Attack

Cotonou, 12 September, 2025 / 11:00 PM

The Catholic Diocese of N’Dali in Benin has suspended pastoral activities in several villages after a recent jihadist attack.

The Local Ordinary, Bishop Martin Adjou Moumouni, has told the Information Service of Propaganda Fide, Agenzia Fides, that jihadists have caused havoc in his Episcopal See, especially in the village of Kalalé near the country’s border with Nigeria.

In a Thursday, September 11 report, Bishop Adjou has been quoted as telling Agenzia Fides that following an attack on Wednesday, September 10 by jihadists suspected to be from Nigeria, Priests ministering in his Diocese are finding it difficult to serve in the village.

“Nigerian Jihadists have long been spreading terror in our diocese, especially in rural areas,” he said, and added, “We were forced to suspend pastoral activities in the villages and even in the city. I asked the Priests of my diocese to hold services only during daylight hours, as insecurity increases with nightfall.”

On the fateful day, jihadists reportedly attacked the village of Kalalé, taking away some valuables belonging to the locals.

The armed militia group attacked a nearby police station, “looted houses, stole motorcycles and cars, and then fled with at least six civilians,” Bishop Adjou says.

The Catholic Bishop suspects that the jihadist group might be “the same group from Nigeria that kidnapped a Catholic believer last month for ransom. After negotiations, this person was released without payment."

He says that the attackers, suspected to be linked to Boko Haram, not only appear to have economic intentions but also “constantly threaten to prevent the proclamation of the Gospel.”

Bishop Adjou reports that the embattled village near the Nigerian border is where missionaries from the Society of African Missions (SMA) have been primarily active. He says, “In Kalalé, we had to withdraw the sisters of the Society of Jesus the Savior, an order of Spanish origin, due to the threat posed by the jihadists.”

According to Agenzia Fides, jihadist groups originating from Burkina Faso and Niger are also active in Benin.