A Catholic priest is in critical condition after suspected herdsmen ambushed his vehicle on the Makurdi-Naka road in Benue State, Nigeria. The attackers shot at the vehicle and abducted two passengers who were travelling with him.
The brazen assault is the latest in a string of violent incidents along the highway, raising alarm among residents and religious groups over the rising insecurity in the region.
Authorities have launched a manhunt for the kidnappers, while security forces are intensifying patrols along the affected routes. Community leaders are also calling for urgent intervention from the federal government.
The incident has reignited calls for stronger protection for clergy and citizens in Nigeria’s middle belt, where tensions between farmers and herders have frequently turned deadly.
