The Catholic Church in Nigeria through her Secretariat (CSN) has decried the killing of 27 people in three Plateau State villages as a “Sacrilege” and “cold-blooded massacre” that occurred on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026.
In a statement signed by Secretary General Rev. Fr. Michael A. Banjo, the CSN described the attacks on Angwan Rukuba, Gari Ya Waye, and Atakyu as turning “peaceful villages into slaughterhouses” while faithful across the state held palms in honor of the Prince of Peace. The incident, which happened in the evening, came shortly after a similar attack in Maiduguri.
“This was not just a security breach, but a sacrilege against the sanctity of life on one of the holiest days of the Christian calendar,” the statement read, evoking the “heartbreaking image of a mother cradling her wounded son” amid the anguish of affected families.
The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria CSN, invoked Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates the state to protect citizens’ lives, accusing the government of “abdication of this duty” amid recurring violence that has made “human life cheap, disposable, and unprotected.” Affirming the inviolable dignity of every Nigerian, the secretariat urged leaders to value every life as the true measure of our humanity.
It demanded urgent action beyond routine condemnations, including Immediate identification, arrest, and prosecution of perpetrators and sponsors.
Inquiry into negligence or complicity by officials and security personnel.
The Church urged the government to strengthened intelligence and proactive deployments to protect communities, and also, to improve on security reinforcements, humanitarian relief, medical aid, and support for victims’ families.
The statement renews calls for decisive measures to restore public confidence and secure justice in Nigeria’s troubled security landscape.