Pope Leo on Sunday condemned the killing of more than 200 people in Benue State, Nigeria, describing the incident as a “terrible massacre” during his weekly Angelus prayer at St. Peter’s Square.
According to reports, the attack occurred in Yelewata, a community in Guma Local Government Area, where armed herdsmen are alleged to have stormed a settlement, killing hundreds — many of them internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had sought refuge at a local Catholic mission.
The pontiff expressed deep sorrow over the incident and offered prayers for the victims and their families.
“I am praying for security, justice, and peace in Nigeria,” Pope Leo said. “In a special way, I am thinking of the rural Christian communities of Benue State, who have been relentless victims of violence.”
The attack is one of the deadliest in a recent wave of assaults linked to herder-farmer tensions in the region, prompting renewed calls for urgent security interventions.
