Catholic priests in Benue State have expressed outrage over the destruction and desecration of St. Paul’s Parish, Aye-Twar (Agu Centre) in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, and the occupation of 26 other outstations by suspected armed herdsmen. They noted that the incident was not only an attack on the Church and the Diocese of Katsina-Ala, but also “a direct assault on government at all levels, the security operatives, the traditional institutions and indeed all stakeholders.”
Rev. Fr. Samuel Fila, Chairman of the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests’ Association (NCDPA), Katsina-Ala Diocese, explained that the unprovoked violent attack began on Sunday, August 10, 2025, resulting in severe destruction to several facilities in the Central Church at Agu Centre.
He added: “Preceding this assault were previous sustained attacks on the Aye-Twar community, which increased in intensity, forcing the parish priest to relocate while continuing with skeletal pastoral activities.”
The “barbaric attack of August 11, 2025” ultimately forced the shutdown of all pastoral activities—since all 26 outstations had already been occupied by armed herdsmen. The attack left behind widespread devastation: desecration and destruction of the Parish Church, destruction of the Parish Secretariat, burning to ashes of the Father’s House, destruction of household items, pastoral logistics, vehicles, and other valuables.
Currently, the entire Agu Centre community has been deserted by residents, who fear further attacks. Fr. Fila emphasized that Aye-Twar is just one among many communities under sustained invasion by dangerously armed terrorists.
The NCDPA of Katsina-Ala Diocese vehemently denounced the brutal assaults by heavily armed herdsmen militia groups—particularly on August 11—without any intervention by government or security agencies.
Fr. Fila stressed that the security situation has gone beyond the typical “farmer-herder conflicts,” stating: “It has evolved into a premeditated, well-calculated and coordinated effort aimed at genocidal cleansing and territorial domination and the occupation of lands that rightly belo
ngs to us.”
