A group of Catholic priests under the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has strongly condemned the ongoing k!llings in Benue State.
On Sunday, 43 people were k!lled when gunmen attacked communities in Gwer west and Apa LGAs of the state.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Leonard Kawas, president-general of CBCN, asked President Bola Tinubu to declare emergency rule in Benue to address the k!llings.
Kawas also denounced the alleged threats directed at Wilfred Anagbe, the Catholic bishop of Makurdi diocese, who has been an “unflinching voice” for the people of Benue over the k!llings.
On March 12, Anagbe, and Remigius Ihyula, a reverend father, appeared before the United States house foreign affairs committee (HFAC) to testify about militants k!lling and forcibly displacing Christian farmers in Benue.
The clergymen also claimed that there is an ongoing campaign of Islamisation in the country.
“We stand with bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe in his courageous stance against the atrocities committed against our people,” Kawas, who was flanked by his colleagues, said.
“As shepherds of the flock, it is our duty to speak out against injustice and defend the dignity of human life.
“The recent spate of insecurity in our nation is so worrisome that one would wonder if this is not the same Nigeria that silenced the dreaded Liberian rebels and sent peacekeepers all over West Africa who were exceptional in carrying out their duties and earned accolades wherever they were assigned.
“The persistent k!llings, displacement, and trauma inflicted on our communities are a grave affront to humanity, and we will not be silenced. The situation in Benue state has become unbearable.
“Innocent citizens are being k!lled, their homes burned, and their livelihoods destroyed. The government’s inaction is deafening and it seems as though the lives of our people are of little importance.
“We cannot continue to watch as our communities are ravaged by violence and destruction. We urge that President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Benue state to address the catastrophic situation on the ground.”
He said the government must “act swiftly” to arrest the perpetrators and bring an end to the bloodshed.
