“Church stands with you”: Nigeria’s Catholic Bishops Declare Nine-Day Prayer for Benue Attack Victims

In the attack that has been widely condemned, with Pope Leo XIV extending his spiritual closeness to victims of the massacre, the attackers reportedly targeted Christians living as internally displaced people (IDPs), setting fire to buildings where families were taking shelter and assaulting with machetes anyone who attempted to flee.

In their June 20 collective statement, Nigeria’s Catholic Bishops express sorrow and solidarity with those affected by the killings.

“We, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, once again lift our voices in sorrow as shepherds of God’s flock and guardians of our nation’s conscience,” they say in the statement that CBCN Chairman, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, co-signed with the Local Ordinary Uromi Diocese, who doubles as CBCN Secretary, Bishop Donatus Ogun.

Recalling their June 6 statement in which they condemned killings in Benue State and expressed solidarity with Mokwa flood victims, CBCN members say, “It is profoundly heartbreaking that, less than two weeks later, we are compelled to speak out again.”

“The renewed wave of killings in Benue State and other parts of our country continues to wound our collective spirit. It is our fervent hope and prayer that we will not have to issue such sorrowful statements again,” they add.

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Nigeria’s Catholic Bishops make known their solidarity with the victims of the deadly attacks, saying, “To our suffering brothers and sisters in Benue State and across Nigeria, wounded by violence, we assure you that the Church stands with you.”

They commend all individuals, communities, and organizations who continue to “speak out against these heinous crimes. We are also grateful to our brother Bishops who have already called for prayers in response.”

“As a concrete sign of our support, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria has already provided emergency assistance to some affected communities, and a CBCN delegation will soon pay them a solidarity visit,” Catholic Bishops in Nigeria say.

The Catholic Church leaders “ardently pray that the day will soon come when such sorrowful interventions will no longer be necessary, and our voices may instead rise in thanksgiving for a land healed and at peace.”

“May our Lady, Queen and Patroness of Nigeria, intercede for our nation. May Christ, the Prince of Peace, heal our land,” CBCN members implore in their June 20 statement.