Pope Leo XIV Urges FG to Protect Benue Communities as Yelewata Victims Mark One-Year Memorial

Pope Leo XIV has called on the Federal Government to strengthen efforts to protect vulnerable communities in Benue State from recurring attacks.

The appeal was conveyed during a memorial event held in Yelewata to mark one year since the June 13, 2025 killings that claimed hundreds of lives in the community.

Represented through the Catholic Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Wilfred Anagbe, the Pope expressed solidarity with the people of Yelewata and assured them of continued prayers and support as leaders seek lasting solutions to insecurity and violence in the state.

The event featured the unveiling of a 14-foot memorial wall built in honour of victims of the attack. The monument was erected to preserve the memory of those killed and serve as a symbol of resilience and hope.

American missionaries led by Judd Saul commissioned the memorial and also donated relief materials, including food and non-food items, as part of broader humanitarian efforts supporting communities affected by violence across Nigeria.

According to organisers, the names of 271 victims were engraved on the memorial wall, including 66 children, 83 women and 122 men who lost their lives in the attack.

Speakers at the event renewed calls for stronger security measures and practical interventions to safeguard vulnerable populations and prevent further attacks in Benue and other affected communities.