The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe has asked Christians to forgive the invasion and killing of two priest and 17 worshippers at Ayar Mbalom in April this year.
Bishop Anagbe spoke during the atonement rites at St. Ignatius Quasi Parish, Ayar Mbalom where two Catholic priests, Rev Fr. Joseph Gor, Felix Tyolaha and 17 worshipers were killed in April this year.
He Anagbe warned politicians to stop playing politics with people lives but to rather embark on projects that will change lives and attract goodwill from the people.
He also asked the Senator representing Benue North west George Akume to apologise for his statement which indicated that Benue people and not the Fulani herdsmen were responsible for the killings in the state.
The Bishop expressed worry that Christians are being used by non Christians to cause disharmony and attack themselves.
He said similar killings were going on in Jos, Plateau state, Katsina state, Zamfara, Taraba but for the Senator in the state to try changing the narrative was disheartening.
According to the Bishop, one of the slain priest Felix Tyolaha, was displaced from Guma by the herdsmen before he was posted to Mbalom and two days before his death he posted on his Facebook wall complaining that the Fulani herdsmen surrounded Mbalom but he was not going to leave the place.
He noted that for someone, because of political reasons to have said that Benue people and not Fulani herdsmen were responsible for the killings in the state was the most unthinkable thing.
“People think politics is mischief. Why should Christians allow themselves to be used to fight against themselves and champion ungodly acts.
“Are those killing innocent people in Jos, Katsina, Taraba, Zamfara, Nasarawa, etc also Benue people? Many children are without parents, wives without husbands and husbands without wives because they have been killed by the herdsmen.”
Speaking at the occasion, Governor Samuel Ortom said it was disgraceful, shameful and unfortunate for Akume, who represents the seven local governments, some of where people were killed and still under siege by herdsmen, to come out and say that Fulani herdsmen were not responsible for the killings in the state.
He said herdsmen had, at a press conference, said there would be bloodbath in the state if they were not allowed entrance into Benue. “Even after the bloodbath, they had also claimed responsibility for the crime because they said 1000 if their cows were rustled
“As I was leaving to this place this morning, I was alerted that Fulani herdsmen left Nasarawa and were moving into Benue state to cause problems,” he added.
Governor Ortom however, said, “But as Christians, it is our responsibility to forgive no matter the provocations. So we have forgiven all those who did this.
Also speaking, the Chief Press Secretary to Benue state Governor, Terver Akase said it was unfortunate that to some, people’s life don’t matter anymore and people are playing games with the life of others.
“I listened to Bishop Anagbe talk and I couldn’t hold my tears. He has condemned the attempt to change the narrative and blame the victims by Sen. Akume.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Suspected Herdsmen Massacre Two Catholic Priests, 13 Worshipers in Benue.
“You can’t have a worse statement than that. It is the height of insensitivity and shouldn’t have come from one of us. But I’m glad the church has risen to put the records straight that it is he Fulani that committed the crimes.
“Twisting the truth is not in the interest of Benue. Governor Ortom has reiterated that he will not allow Benue land to be taken and he has also warned that people should not take politics to the extreme or play on the graves of the victims,” he said.
Other villagers who spoke to our correspondent said they are consoled by the fact that the two priests and the 17 other worshippers died for Christ.
