#BreakingNews Over 70 Christians Killed and 20 Catholic Medical Students Abducted in Nigeria - Please Pray!



Nigeria's The Sun reported that the death toll from an August 8, 2024, attack on Ayati Christian Community, in Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, Nigeria, Africa has risen to 74. Some local bandits allegedly assisted by killer herdsmen  attacked the community , killing many people, while  several others were  injured. The villagers were reportedly attacked after some bandits allegedly received money from some herders and allowed  them to graze their animals in two council wards of Ukum.  
Over 50,000 Christians have been killed in the last 15 years, with dozens of Catholic priests among the victims. Vatican News released that "according to the report “Martyred Christians in Nigeria” issued by Intersociety, over the past 14 years at least 52,250 Nigerian Christians have been brutally murdered at the hands of Islamist militants."
 According to a local, the farmers complained to security agencies that their farms  were being invaded by herdsmen and the security agencies assisted the farmers to chase   away the herders. The action did not go down well with the herdsmen, who became angry, claiming that they paid money for the land and went  back to the bandits, who gave them permission to graze. The source said that the bandits joined  hands with the herdsmen to attack the village , killing many people and injuring others . Benue State  Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene,confirmed that the state commissioner of Police,Hassan Yabanet, was on a visit to  the scene  to assess the damages done by the assailants, adding that 15 persons including two police officers,were killed during the attack. While the villagers continued the search for their family members,it was also reported that 50 bodies were recovered. (The Daily Sun)

A compilation of list of the deceased members made available to newsmen in Makurdi, from the community, has so far revealed that 74 person were killed during the attack.

Kidnapping of Medical Students:

In a separate incident, the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) said in a statement that the 20 students from the University of Jos (UNIJOS) and the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), northern Nigeria , were travelling to the southern city of Enugu to attend the annual FECAMDS convention when armed men at Oyukpo in Benue State and abducted them.


“Ever since this incident, we have been thrown into a state of gloom, and have been working tirelessly with relevant parties to ensure their speedy release,” said the statement co-signed by the federation’s National President Ige Gabriel Ariyo, and its National Secretary General, Mary Rose Malomo.
“We are already in close communication with immediate families, and everyone directly affected, to ensure the swift and safe return of our members. We want to assure everyone that FECAMDS Nigeria is fully involved and committed to addressing the situation,” she said.
Catholic Bishops have decried “an epidemic of kidnapping” in Africa’s most populated nation, highlight the continued persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

https://thesun.ng/benue-death-toll-rises-to-74-in-fresh-herdmen-attack/ 

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