President Muhammadu Buhari has described as vile and satanic the killing of worshippers and two priests at a Catholic church in Ukpor-Mbalom community in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State.
Two Catholic priests, catechists and some worshippers were killed by men suspected to be herdsmen in Benue on Tuesday.
The president condemned the killing saying it was despicable.
Special adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said in a statement on Tuesday that Buhari said he will not bow to the machinations of evil doers and that the perpetrators of the dastardly act would be hunted down.
The president said: “I extend my sincere condolences to the government and people of Benue State, the Mbalom community, and especially the Bishop, priests and members of the St Ignatius’ Catholic Church, whose premises was the unfortunate venue of the heinous killings by gunmen.
“This latest assault on innocent persons is particularly despicable. Violating a place of worship, killing priests and worshippers is not only vile, evil and satanic, it is clearly calculated to stoke up religious conflict and plunge our communities into endless bloodletting.”
Buhari stressed that the country will not bow to the machinations of evildoers, and vowed that “the assailants would be hunted down and made to pay for the sacrilege committed.”