Manny Ita –
Pope Leo XIV has formally condemned the “heavy loss of life” following a series of brutal terrorist assaults in Nigeria, including the February 3 massacre in Woro village, Kwara State, which local officials and the Red Cross confirm has claimed at least 162 lives. Addressing a crowd of thousands at St. Peter’s Square during the Sunday Angelus, the Pontiff expressed profound “sorrow and concern” over the deteriorating security situation in Africa’s most populous nation, specifically referencing a new wave of violence that saw over 50 people and a Catholic priest abducted in Kaduna State this past weekend. “It is with sorrow and concern that I learned of the recent attacks against various communities in Nigeria leading to a heavy loss of life,” the Pope stated from the window of the Apostolic Palace. “I express my prayerful closeness to all the victims of violence and terrorism.”
The massacre in Woro, which began on the evening of February 3 and lasted until the early hours of the following morning, has been described by security analysts as the deadliest jihadist attack in Nigeria so far this year. Survivors recounted how hundreds of gunmen on motorbikes surrounded the village, executing residents at close range and burning homes after the community reportedly rejected a demand to adopt the militants’ extremist ideology. Among the dead were the village’s chief Imam, school teachers, and numerous children. In his address, the Pope issued a direct appeal to the Federal Government in Abuja, saying, “I likewise hope that the competent Authorities will continue to work with determination to ensure the safety and protection of the life of every citizen.”
The Vatican’s intervention comes as President Bola Tinubu directed the immediate deployment of an army battalion to the Kaiama Local Government Area to spearhead “Operation Savannah Shield” in response to the carnage. The Pope’s message also highlighted the plight of Father Nathaniel Asuwaye, the parish priest of Holy Trinity Church in Karku, Kaduna, who was seized by gunmen during a 3:00 a.m. raid on Saturday that left three others dead. As international pressure mounts, the Holy Father concluded his Sunday address with a broader plea for global peace, warning that strategies built solely on “economic and military power” offer no lasting future for humanity, emphasizing instead that “the future lies in respect and fraternity among peoples.”
