MAKURDI, Nigeria — A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Solomon Atongo, was critically wounded on Friday, May 23, 2025, after being shot by suspected herdsmen along the volatile Makurdi–Naka road in Benue State.
The incident was confirmed in a statement issued by Rev. Fr. Joseph Beba, Chairman of the Diocesan Priests, who said Rev. Atongo was attacked while travelling from Naka, the headquarters of Gwer West Local Government Area.
Fr. Atongo, the parish priest of St. John’s Quasi Parish, Jimba, was reportedly accompanied by two individuals at the time of the assault.
According to preliminary accounts, the attackers opened fire on the group, shooting the priest before abducting the two others.
Believing Fr. Atongo to be dead, the assailants left him at the scene and fled with the unidentified companions to an unknown location.
The injured priest was later rushed to a hospital, where he remains in critical condition. As of press time, there was no information on the whereabouts or condition of the kidnapped individuals.
The Makurdi–Naka road has for years been plagued by violent attacks, with residents and travellers repeatedly targeted by armed groups.
Local communities have raised alarm over the near-total absence of security on the route, which has become notorious for kidnappings and killings.
Friday’s attack has once again brought renewed calls for urgent government intervention to restore security to the region.
Church officials, community leaders, and human rights groups have condemned the incident and urged authorities to take swift action.
There has been no official response from Benue State Police Command as of the time of filing this report.
Search operations for the abducted individuals are believed to be underway.
