Pope Leo XIV Laments Nigeria Killings, Urges Authorities to Act as Deadly Attacks Spread

Pope Leo XIV has condemned the recent surge in violent attacks across Nigeria, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of lives and urging authorities to take firm action to safeguard citizens.

In a message shared on his official X account, the Pontiff said he received news of the attacks with “sorrow and concern,” noting that multiple communities had been affected by violence and terrorism.

“I express my prayerful closeness to all the victims of violence and terrorism,” he wrote. “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 Pope’s remarks come as Nigeria grapples with a series of deadly incidents, with Kwara State recording the most severe violence in recent days.

Between February 3 and 4, 2026, armed attackers invaded Woro and Nuku villages in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State. Residents described the assault as a massacre, with reports initially putting the death toll at 162. Local leaders and survivors, however, claim more than 200 people may have been killed as bodies are still being recovered from nearby bushes. Official figures released by the police and Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq confirmed 75 fatalities.

Following the attack, President Bola Tinubu ordered the deployment of additional troops to the area and declared a nationwide security emergency. A full army battalion has since been deployed to Kaiama as part of a new military operation to restore peace. Vice President Kashim Shettima also visited Ilorin on February 7 to sympathise with the state government and affected communities.

The killings sparked widespread international reactions. The United Nations, the United States, and Türkiye condemned the violence and called for justice, with Türkiye pledging military assistance to Nigeria’s fight against insecurity.

Amnesty International, however, criticised the Nigerian government, alleging serious security failures. The rights group said residents had reportedly warned authorities of looming attacks weeks before the massacre, but no adequate preventive measures were taken.

Elsewhere in the country, violence continued within the same period. In Katsina State, armed groups reportedly killed between 21 and 35 people in Doma village, Tafoki ward, during coordinated house-to-house attacks that shattered a five-month peace agreement between residents and local armed gangs.

In Benue State, suspected armed herdsmen attacked the Abande settlement in Kwande Local Government Area on February 3, killing at least 16 people, including a Mobile Police officer, and looting a local market.

Similarly, in Niger State, gunmen struck communities in Agwara and Mashegu local government areas on February 1, torching a police station and abducting several residents.

The wave of attacks has intensified concerns about Nigeria’s worsening security situation, with growing calls for stronger protection of vulnerable communities and more decisive action against armed groups nationwide.