Buhari Condemns Latest Benue Killings
President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the killings on Tuesday at a Roman Catholic Church in Benue State.
Suspected Fulani herdsmen killed 15 people in an early morning attack on the church in Ukpor-Mbalom, a community in Gwer West Local Government Area.
Terver Akase, a spokesperson to Governor Samuel Ortom, told the Premium Times that the attackers also burnt 50 houses and sacked the entire community.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Makurdi later confirmed two of its priests, Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha, both reverend fathers, were killed in the attack on St Ignatius Quasi Parish in Ukpor, Mbalom.
In a State House statement by his spokesperson, Femi Adeshina, President Buhari described the killing as “vile and satanic.”
“I extend my sincere condolences to the government and people of Benue State, the Mbalom community, and especially the Bishop, priests and members of the St Ignatius’ Catholic Church, whose premises was the unfortunate venue of the heinous killings by gunmen.
“This latest assault on innocent persons is particularly despicable. Violating a place of worship, killing priests and worshippers is not only vile, evil and satanic, it is clearly calculated to stoke up religious conflict and plunge our communities into endless bloodletting,” the President said.
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