In a powerful display of faith and unity, thousands of Catholic worshippers took to the streets of Benue State this week for a solemn prayer walk, calling for an end to ongoing herdsmen attacks that have devastated local communities.
Clad in white and holding rosaries, crucifixes, and placards bearing messages such as “Stop the killings,” “God of peace, hear our cry,” and “Justice for Benue,” the faithful walked silently through the streets of Makurdi and surrounding towns, praying for peace, healing, and divine intervention.
Leading the procession were priests, nuns, and lay leaders from various Catholic dioceses in the state, including the Diocese of Makurdi, Gboko, and Otukpo. Many participants wore black armbands in mourning, while others held up photos of loved ones lost to the violence.
“This is not a protest, it is a cry to heaven,” said Rev. Fr. Terlumun Adasu, one of the organizers. “We are appealing to God, and also to the conscience of our leaders, to end this bloodshed. Enough is enough.”
Benue State has been one of the hardest-hit regions in Nigeria’s long-standing herder-farmer conflict. The latest attacks, including the massacre in Yelwata where over 200 people were killed, have left entire communities in grief and fear.
“We’ve buried too many,” said Sister Mary Aondo, a Catholic nun who joined the walk. “Now we raise our voices not in anger, but in prayer.”
While the prayer walk was rooted in spiritual conviction, it also carried a strong message to the government.
“We urge President Bola Tinubu and Governor Hyacinth Alia to treat these attacks as acts of terror, not just local disputes,” said Dr. Veronica Ityav, a Catholic lay minister. “Human lives must be valued above political calculations.”
Security officials were present throughout the walk to ensure order, and no incidents were reported. The peaceful event drew attention from residents, some of whom joined spontaneously, while others stood in silence as the worshippers passed.
The Catholic Church has long been a vocal advocate for justice and peace in the Middle Belt region, often stepping in to provide relief, trauma counselling, and advocacy for victims of violence.
This prayer walk, observers say, was more than a religious rite, it was a collective act of resilience, reaffirming the people’s hope for a future without fear.
As dusk fell and the final prayers were said at the foot of a wooden cross erected in the heart of Makurdi, the message rang clear: Benue may be wounded, but it is not broken.
