Abuja: A brutal terrorist attack in Nigeria's Benue State has left more than 200 people dead, with the majority of the victims identified as Christians. The massacre occurred in the village of Yelwata, spanning late Friday night into the early hours of Saturday. According to local sources, many of those killed had sought shelter at a nearby Catholic mission.

The community remains in shock as several people are still missing, and many of the injured have not received proper medical attention due to a lack of resources. Eyewitnesses and rights groups have revealed horrific details, including reports that attackers locked families inside their homes before setting them ablaze. The human rights organization Amnesty International condemned the atrocity and urged the Nigerian government to take immediate action to stop the ongoing bloodshed in Benue, a region in central Nigeria that is home to a predominantly Christian population.

On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV expressed deep sorrow over the massacre. Speaking during his address ahead of the Angelus prayer, the Pope mourned the lives lost and prayed for healing and peace in Nigeria. He made specific mention of the June 13–14 attack, noting that many of the victims were displaced people who had found refuge in the Catholic mission at Yelwata in the Guma Local Government Area. The Pope also called for security and justice for the rural Christian communities in Benue, who have long endured targeted violence.

The crisis in Benue is rooted in ongoing land disputes between nomadic herders and local farmers. Clashes over access to pasture and farmland have frequently escalated into ethnic and religious violence. The situation is further inflamed by the activities of heavily armed groups. In May, at least 42 civilians were slaughtered by suspected Fulani herdsmen in a series of coordinated attacks in the Gwer West region of Benue.

With no signs of the violence abating, humanitarian groups and Church leaders continue to call on the Nigerian authorities and the international community to intervene, provide protection for vulnerable communities, and address the root causes of the conflict.