Terrorists invaded a Catholic parish house in Nigeria’s Nasarawa State, stabbing two priests in a violent pre-dawn raid that left them hospitalized.
Armed terrorists broke into the parish house of St. Rita Catholic Church in Unity Estate, Mararaba, around 2:30 a.m. on December 30, 2025, launching a savage attack on the sleeping priests.
They targeted Rev. Fr. Comas Baye, the resident priest and a cadet in the Knights of St. John International, stabbing him repeatedly and causing complications including a partial stroke.
The assailants then turned on Rev. Fr. Chris Pever, a visiting priest and former assistant at the parish, fracturing his left arm in the assault and necessitating surgical implants.
Amid the chaos, the parish priest narrowly escaped unharmed, dodging the intruders as they ransacked the residence.
Rescuers rushed both injured priests to Nativity Catholic Hospital in nearby Jikwoyi, Abuja, where doctors stabilized them and initiated treatment.
Meanwhile, local authorities launched an investigation, but no arrests occurred immediately, heightening fears among residents in the area bordering the capital.
The Knights of St. John International swiftly condemned the terrorists’ actions in a forceful statement.
Brigadier General Francis Ulonna Njoku, the group’s grand president, alongside Grand Secretary Colonel Etta Peters, labeled the incident a “heinous, barbaric, and reprehensible attack on Catholic priests” and a “vicious assault on innocent clergy.”
They urged security forces to track down the perpetrators and deliver justice, emphasizing that the raid represented a “grave affront to the sanctity of human life, religious institutions, and the moral fabric of our society.”
Public outrage erupted on social media platforms, where Nigerians decried the lack of protection for religious sites.
One user lamented the absence of widespread protests, noting, “See as Christians no carry outrage talks scatter the whole place?” while another warned that terrorists “won’t survive Trump’s war against terrorism.”
Others called for international intervention, tagging U.S. officials and pleading, “Nigeria seriously need help.”
In addition, accounts like @ProtecttheFaith highlighted the religious targeting, stating, “Islamist terrorists are relentlessly singling out priests for abduction and murder,” and questioning the Vatican’s response.
This assault fits into a disturbing pattern of violence against Christians in Nigeria, where terrorists and armed groups frequently target churches and clergy.
For instance, reports linked the attackers to broader insecurity plaguing the Federal Capital Territory and neighboring states, including recent Boko Haram strikes in Adamawa that claimed eight lives.
Furthermore, Vatican data revealed that 17 Catholic missionaries and pastoral workers perished worldwide in 2025, with five deaths occurring in Nigeria alone, underscoring the country’s status as a hotspot for such atrocities.
As communities rally for enhanced security, the incident raises urgent questions about protecting vulnerable religious sites amid escalating threats.
