Abuja, 20 June, 2025 / 11:44 pm (ACI Africa).
Nigeria’s Catholic Bishops have declared nine days of prayer following the June 13-14 attacks in the country’s Benue State that reportedly resulted in the death of some 200 people.
In a statement issued Friday, June 20, members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) say that the spiritual initiative to begin on June 21 throughout the country aims to manifest Christian faith in mourning the dead, comfort survivors, and intercede for peace across the nation.
“We call on all Catholics in Nigeria and all people of goodwill to observe a Nine-Day Prayer beginning from Saturday, 21 June 2025,” CBCN members say, and add, “Each day, we ask individuals, families, Parishes, and communities to recite the Rosary, followed by the Prayer for Nigeria in Distress.”
On the final day, June 29, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Nigeria’s Catholic Bishops direct that “Holy Mass be offered across all Dioceses and Parishes for peace and healing in Nigeria, the repose of the dead, the comfort of victims, divine protection, and for the conversion of those responsible for the barbaric massacre of unarmed fellow citizens, including women and children.”
On June 13, Islamist Fulani militants attacked the town of Yelewata in Nigeria’s Benue State, killing at least 200 persons in what international aid organizations have termed the “worst killing spree” in the Nigerian region.