A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Solomon Atongo, was shot and critically wounded by suspected herdsmen along the volatile Makurdi-Naka road in Benue State on Saturday evening.

According to a statement by Rev. Joseph Beba, Chairman of Diocesan Priests, the attack occurred while Fr. Atongo was returning from Naka, the headquarters of Gwer West Local Government Area. The victim, who serves as the priest in charge of St. Johns Quasi Parish, Jimba, was immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment and is reportedly in critical condition.

Sources revealed that Fr. Atongo was traveling with two companions when the assailants struck. After shooting the priest and believing him to be dead, the attackers allegedly abducted the other two individuals, taking them to an unknown location. As of the time of this report, the whereabouts of these individuals remain unknown.

The Makurdi-Naka road has become notorious for violent attacks in recent years, with local residents largely abandoning the route due to frequent kidnappings and killings attributed to armed groups. This latest incident adds to the growing security concerns in the region, which has seen escalating tensions between local communities and herders.

This attack comes amid increasing calls for herders to leave certain areas of Benue State. Both the Tiv traditional council and the Och'Idoma have reportedly issued directives for herders to vacate specific territories, highlighting the ongoing tensions in the region.

Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident or the status of efforts to locate the abducted individuals.