The Sacred Heart Minor Seminary in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital in Nigeria, has been shut for one week following an attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen. Two Catholic priests were said to have been beaten up, while another was shot in the leg. During the attack, which was said to have taken place on May 28, some students were reportedly injured and many cars destroyed. The herdsmen were said to have shot continuously at the residence of the Rector, Fr. Emmanuel Atsue, and beaten up Fr. Stephen Bakari.
The Director of Caritas Nigeria, an agency of the Catholic Church, Fr. Evaristus Bassey, sent a WhatsApp message on the incident to media. As reported by mattersindia.com, Fr. Bassey remarked that “Please, pray for us. Our minor seminary in Jalingo has just been attacked by Fulani men; some students are injured, some cars destroyed, two priests beaten up and one shot in the leg. They are currently receiving treatment at the medical college.” Further, he added, “From their conversation, we were able to understand that their grievance against us is that the security men in the seminary have been challenging their decision to graze right inside the seminary: around classes and football field.”
The herdsmen were said to be unhappy with security men in the seminary for trying to prevent them from grazing their cattle on the premises of the institution. In his reaction to the attack, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government of being insensitive to the plights of Nigerian Christians.
