Pope Leo condemns the “terrible massacre” in Yelwata, Benue State (video)

Pope Leo prayed on Sunday for the victims of the “terrible massacre” in Yelwata, Benue State, Nigeria. 

The new Pope, while speaking today, June 15, just before delivering the Angelus prayer, addressed the sad incident that left around 200 people dead in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area, Benue State. 

The Yelwata killings was said to have been carried out by suspected herdsmen, starting from late Friday, June 13, into the early hours of Saturday, June 14, 2025. 

According to Pope Leo, most of the victims were internally displaced persons “sheltered by the local Catholic mission”. 

Speaking just before delivering the Sunday Angelus prayer, the Pope prayed for “security, justice, and peace” in Nigeria, adding that he was thinking in particular of the “rural Christian communities of the Benue State who have been relentless victims of violence”. 

Responding to the attack, Amnesty International Nigeria on Saturday called on Nigerian authorities to “immediately end the almost daily bloodshed in Benue State and bring the actual perpetrators to justice”.

Watch Pope Leo address the massacre in the video below.