Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — In a disturbing escalation of violence near the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), armed bandits attacked the parish residence of St. Rita Catholic Church in Unity Estate, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, in the early hours of Tuesday, leaving two Catholic priests seriously injured and raising fresh alarm about insecurity in communities around Abuja. The attack occurred at approximately 2:30 a.m., when gunmen forcibly entered the parish house and stabbed the clergy before fleeing the scene.
The victims have been identified as Rev. Fr. Comas Baye, the priest in residence and a Cadet of the Knights of St. John International (KSJI), and Rev. Fr. Chris Pever, a visiting priest and former assistant of the parish. Both men were rushed to Nativity Catholic Hospital in Jikwoyi, Abuja, where they received urgent medical treatment. Fr. Pever sustained severe injuries, including a fractured left arm that required surgical implantation, while Fr. Baye — reportedly living with complications from a partial stroke — was treated and stabilised. Officials from the hospital reported that both priests are currently in stable condition and responding to care.
According to local accounts, the parish priest narrowly escaped the assault unhurt, but the brutality of the intrusion — in what is traditionally considered a place of sanctuary — has drawn sharp condemnation from religious and civic groups. The Abuja Grand Commandery of the Noble Order of the Knights of St. John International issued a strongly worded statement decrying the attack as a barbaric and reprehensible act of violence against innocent clergy and a direct challenge to the safety of worship spaces and religious figures.
In its statement, the organisation’s leadership described the assault as part of a worrying pattern of attacks on places of worship and ministers of faith, particularly within the FCT and adjoining states. The group urged security agencies to urgently investigate the incident, apprehend the perpetrators, and ensure they face justice without delay. It also called on federal, state and local governments to bolster security around religious institutions and vulnerable communities to prevent further such attacks.
Residents in and around Mararaba — a bustling suburb of Abuja that has seen repeated security challenges — expressed shock and fear in the aftermath of the targeted attack. Many locals said the incident has heightened anxieties about their safety, particularly given the early morning timing and the assailants’ boldness in breaching what is typically a secure residential compound.
Security analysts and community leaders have pointed to a broader pattern of banditry and armed criminality affecting Nasarawa and neighbouring states, where gunmen have repeatedly struck at civilian targets, ranging from churches and schools to markets and rural hamlets. Earlier incidents in the state have included attacks on church gatherings and worshippers, underscoring the recurring threat posed by armed groups who operate with relative impunity in some areas.
The attack adds to a growing catalogue of violent incidents targeting religious communities across Nigeria. Over the past year, various reports have documented bandit and extremist assaults on church properties and clergy, often resulting in deaths, injuries or kidnappings. In some cases, bandits have abducted worshippers and demanded large ransoms, while other extremist groups have attacked convoys or residences of clergy in different regions.
Security officials have not yet released a formal statement on the Mararaba attack, but the incident is expected to draw intensified attention from law enforcement and government authorities, particularly as it highlights vulnerabilities in areas adjacent to the nation’s capital. The police and military have in recent months been under pressure to address rising insecurity, and such brazen assaults on religious figures are likely to prompt renewed calls for decisive action.
The Catholic Diocese of Lafia, which oversees St. Rita’s parish, has expressed concern over the safety of its clergy and parishioners. Church officials have appealed to government and security agencies to ensure that religious leaders can carry out their pastoral duties without fear of attack, and to bring perpetrators of such crimes to account. Community members have echoed these sentiments, urging enhanced patrols and better coordination among security forces to protect vulnerable neighbourhoods.
Religious leaders across Nigeria have in recent years increasingly called attention to the toll that banditry, terrorism and communal violence have taken on places of worship and ministry personnel. These voices argue that attacks on priests, pastors and imams not only violate basic human rights but also undermine efforts to foster unity and peace in diverse communities.
The Mararaba attack comes at a time when national and state governments are facing mounting pressure to curb insecurity in and around population centres. Authorities have at times deployed joint security operations, including special police units and military task forces, in efforts to clamp down on criminal networks and extremist factions. However, residents and analysts alike contend that more proactive strategies are needed, including community engagement, intelligence-sharing and sustained protection of soft targets such as places of worship.
As both priests recover in hospital, their parish community has rallied around them with prayers and support, even as the wider Catholic Church and civil society groups underscore the urgent need for justice and enhanced security. The attack on St. Rita’s — particularly its violation of sanctuary and the physical harm inflicted on clergy — has been described by many as not only a crime against individuals but also an affront to religious freedom and the moral fabric of society.
For many Nigerians, particularly those in vulnerable regions, the assault reaffirms the persistent threat that armed bandits pose to ordinary life, and it adds to the mounting calls for comprehensive reforms in how insecurity is addressed across the country. Authorities at all levels have been urged to renew efforts to protect citizens, safeguard places of worship, and restore confidence in the rule of law as the nation grapples with a complex landscape of criminal and extremist violence.
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