By Dalena Reporters l December 30, 2025
ABUJA / NASARAWA STATE, Nigeria — In a troubling escalation of violent crime linked to Terrorist Attack around Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, armed assailants on Tuesday stormed the parish house of St. Rita Catholic Church in Unity Estate, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, stabbing two Catholic priests before fleeing the scene in the early hours of the morning.
According to local reports, the attack occurred at approximately 2:30 a.m., when unidentified gunmen breached the residence attached to the parish and launched a brutal assault on the clergymen inside. 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 at the parish, were both stabbed and left critically injured. The parish priest narrowly escaped unharmed.
Emergency responders and parishioners quickly transported the victims to Nativity Catholic Hospital in Jikwoyi, Abuja, where they received urgent medical treatment. Fr. Baye was reported to be contending with complications, including a partial stroke, while Fr. Pever sustained severe injuries, including a fracture to his left arm for which he underwent a surgical implant procedure. Hospital officials have stated that both priests are currently in stable condition and responding to treatment.
The brutal assault has drawn condemnation from religious and civic authorities. In a strongly worded statement, the Abuja Grand Commandery of the Noble Order of the Knights of St. John International decried the attack as a “heinous, barbaric, and reprehensible” act, warning that it reflects a worsening insecurity affecting places of worship and religious leaders in and around the Federal Capital Territory.
The statement, signed by Brigadier General Francis Ulonna Njoku (rtd), Grand President, and Colonel Etta Peters, Grand Secretary, described the incident not only as an assault on innocent clergy but also as a profound affront to the sanctity of human life and the moral fabric of Nigerian society. The Knights called on security agencies at federal and state levels to thoroughly investigate the attack, apprehend those responsible, and ensure they face justice without delay.
Furthermore, the order urged government authorities to strengthen protection measures around religious institutions and vulnerable communities, highlighting that attacks on places of worship, school campuses, and clergy have become alarmingly frequent in recent years. Observers and religious leaders have expressed growing concern that such violence undermines both community safety and interfaith harmony in the region.
This latest incident adds to a broader pattern of violent banditry targeting civilians, including instances of church attacks, kidnappings, and assaults on clergy across Nigeria. The Catholic Church and other religious organizations have repeatedly called for decisive action to protect worshippers and clergy amid a climate of escalating crime and insecurity.
As investigations continue, security analysts and community leaders emphasize the urgent need for coordinated responses to address persistent threats and restore public confidence in safety around places of worship and community gathering points.