The parish priest of Yelewata is determined to stay and help rebuild after the massacre
The Nigerian priest who narrowly escaped one of the country’s worst massacres of Christians has expressed his firm determination to remain in the community and help rebuild it in the aftermath of persecution.
In his latest interview with the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Father Ukuma Jonathan Angbianbee spoke as reports continued to emerge about the death toll in the village of Yelewata, located in Benue State. The number has now surpassed 200, with more than 20 additional bodies recently found in the forest and an abandoned building.
The priest told ACN that, just two days after the massacre, only 20 of the nearly 500 parishioners who normally attend Sunday Mass at St. Joseph’s Church were present. He explained that the others had either been killed or had fled to nearby towns and cities. Despite having narrowly escaped death at the hands of gunmen and having been a priest for less than two years, Father Jonathan affirmed his decision to remain and rebuild the parish.
“I am here in Yelewata. This is where I will stay, and here I will continue to serve the people for the glory of God,” he said in the interview. He also admitted that he is still trying to recover from the “terrifying” experience on the night of the massacre, when, upon hearing gunfire outside, he and those in the parish house — including children — dropped to the ground. Meanwhile, he noted, “many of our parishioners, now scattered, wish to return and rebuild their lives.”
Emphasizing the need to end the violence, the priest stated: “On the night of the atrocity, the police did everything they could. In the future, we hope more security personnel will be deployed. The government has promised to go after those responsible, and we hope they will get to the root of the problem.”
It has been reported that General Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s Chief of Defense Staff, visited the scene of the massacre earlier this week and suggested that there may have been internal collaboration in the attacks: “We noticed that some of the fires were started in a very selective manner, which indicates the presence of infiltrators undermining the efforts of security forces.”
Highlighting that the community is located near the volatile border between Benue and Nasarawa states, the priest called for increased security, either through a military base or a fully established security post. He added that, if safety is guaranteed, many of the families who fled on the night of the attack would be willing to return.
Father Jonathan also pointed out that the victims of the attack were internally displaced persons who were temporarily living in market square housing, yet many of them considered Yelewata their home. He stressed that the displaced now seeking refuge in towns like Dauda are in need of support, and he called for prayers and concrete actions in favor of justice and peace. His final message: “May God grant eternal rest to those who lost their lives, comfort to the afflicted, and the restoration of peace.”
