Catholic Priest Shot by Suspected Herdsmen in Benue

Rev. Fr. Solomon Atongo, a Catholic priest serving at St. John’s Quasi Parish in Jimba, was shot on Sunday evening by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen along the Makurdi–Naka road in Benue State. The attack occurred as the priest was returning from Naka, the headquarters of Gwer West Local Government Area.

Rev. Joseph Beba, Chairman of the Diocesan Priests in the area, confirmed the incident in a statement. He said Fr. Atongo was travelling in the company of two others when the assailants ambushed them. The priest sustained gunshot wounds and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

According to local sources, after shooting Fr. Atongo and presuming he was dead, the attackers abducted the two other passengers and took them to an unknown destination. Their whereabouts remain unknown at the time of this report.

The Makurdi–Naka road has reportedly become notorious over the past two years for violent attacks and kidnappings, with criminal elements operating freely due to limited security presence.