BENUE: CAN reveals count of churches burnt, people displaced by herdsmen

Attacks and killings by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Benue State, which have heightened since the beginning of this year, is said to have led to the destruction of over 500 churches and displaced about 170,000 persons.

This revelation was made by the state chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Akpen Leva, on Tuesday in Makurdi, the state capital.

According to him, the crisis which dates back to 2011 has affected churches and worshippers, most of whom he said have also been displaced.

Apart from churches, Leva said that missionary schools situated within the affected churches, pastoral centres and homes, clinics and rehabilitation homes had also been lost owing to the crisis.

“The destruction cuts across Catholic, Pentecostal, NKST, Anglican and several other churches located in areas affected by the crisis.

“The level of destruction is actually worrisome and that is the more reason why there is every need for the Federal Government to consider availing these churches some form of compensation, so that we can rebuild the effected structures and also effect repairs on others,” he said.

The cleric therefore called on the Federal Government to direct the military and sister-security agencies to ensure an end is put to herdsmen menaces and further incursions into Benue communities.

READ ALSO: See What Benue Leaders Told Buhari

Leva added, “Majority of those affected in the crisis are Christians, which means that the Church also carries the burden of contributing its widow’s mite to the upkeep of the close to 170,000 persons displaced in the state as a result of the crisis.

“The situation in Benue State at the moment is pathetic; the state government has been overwhelmed because of the magnitude of the devastation and the number of the displaced. There is certainly no way a state government can cope with the kind of number of IDPs the government is catering for at the moment.”

 

 

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