Pope Leo XIV and the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Wilfred Anagbe, have called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to protect vulnerable communities in Benue State from persistent attacks.
The appeal was made during the unveiling of a 14-foot memorial wall dedicated to victims of the Yelewata killings, marking the first anniversary of the June 13, 2025 tragedy.
In a message delivered through Bishop Anagbe, Pope Leo XIV assured residents of Yelewata of continued prayers and urged leaders across political divides to work toward practical and lasting solutions to the ongoing violence in Benue State.
The memorial project, commissioned by American missionaries led by Judd Saul, also included the donation of food and non-food relief materials as part of wider humanitarian efforts aimed at supporting affected communities.
The 14-foot structure carries the engraved names of 271 victims of the attack, comprising 66 children, 83 women, and 122 men.
Organisers said the memorial serves as both a tribute to the deceased and a global call to action against continued attacks on vulnerable populations in parts of Nigeria.
