Rev. Fr. Solomon Atongu, the priest overseeing St. John Quasi Parish, Jimba, was reportedly shot by suspected armed herdsmen on Saturday evening along the notorious Makurdi–Naka Road in Benue State.
The attack occurred as Fr. Atongu was returning to his parish in Naka from Makurdi when he ran into an ambush near Tyolaha in Gwer West Local Government Area. The gunmen opened fire, seriously wounding the priest and abducting two other occupants of the vehicle, who were taken into the surrounding forest. The attackers are believed to have assumed the priest was dead.
Fortunately, security operatives arrived at the scene in time to rescue Fr. Atongu, who had already lost a significant amount of blood. He was immediately rushed to a medical facility where efforts are ongoing to stabilize his condition.
The Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Rev. Fr. Shima Ukpanya, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on behalf of the Bishop, Most Rev. Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe. He appealed for prayers for the swift recovery of the injured priest.
Part of the statement read:
“I write on behalf of the Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Most Revd. Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, to inform and request your prayers for the quick recovery of one of our priests, Revd. Fr. Solomon Atongu, who was attacked and shot this evening around Tyolaha, Makurdi–Naka Road, Gwer West LGA, by suspected terrorist herdsmen.
Let us unite in prayer for God’s healing upon him as medics try to stabilize him. May our Lady Mother of Perpetual Help intercede for us.”
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Catherine Anene, for comment were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
