Benue killings: Papal representative, 50 bishops for mass burial Tuesday

As the priests and parishioners killed by herdsmen militia in Benue State a few weeks ago will be buried on Tuesday, Catholic faithful across the country, are expected to hold a vigil.

Catholic faithful in Abuja are also expected to hold a procession on Tuesday, while there will be celebration of mass by Catholic faithful simultaneously  across the country on the same day, commencing at 10am.

Director of Communications, Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Reverend Father Moses Iorapuu, who stated this at the weekend, noted that the representative of Pope in Nigeria is expected to attend the funeral.

Several bishops, numbering about 50, are also expected to attend the funeral service, while other bishops will lead the ceremonies in their respective dioceses.

Iorapuu  said the date of the funeral was chosen during the bishops' conference in Rome, noting that the date coincides with first anniversary of the date the anti-open grazing bill was passed by the Benue State House of Assembly.

"At the time the local church here (Benue) was under attack, the bishops were in a conference in Rome, so Pope got primary information. It was there  they  took the decision with the local church and they fixed the burial for May 22.

"It was on May 22, 2017 that the anti-open grazing bill was passed by the state assembly. Exactly one year after, this is what we have to show – the priests and many others who were killed," he stated.