Catholic Priests Injured in Bandit Attack in Nasarawa

Armed bandits assaulted two Catholic priests during a raid on St. Rita Catholic Church’s Parish House in Unity Estate, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, close to Abuja, inflicting serious injuries on both clerics.

The assault took place in the predawn hours of Tuesday, December 30, 2025, when armed attackers invaded the parish residence.

Two priests sustained injuries during the violent intrusion, while the Parish Priest managed to escape without harm.

Reports indicate the injured were Rev. Fr. Comas Baye, who serves as priest in residence and holds membership as a Cadet in the Knights of St. John International (KSJI), and Rev. Fr. Chris Pever, who was visiting the parish and previously served as Assistant Priest there.

Rev. Fr. Baye reportedly developed medical complications from the assault, including a partial stroke.

Emergency medical care was provided to both priests at Nativity Catholic Hospital in Jikwoyi, Abuja, where they were transported immediately after the attack.

Rev. Fr. Pever suffered serious injuries, including a broken left arm, and had a successful surgical procedure to implant medical hardware at the facility.

Related: Bandits Kidnap Living Faith Church Pastor And Four Others In Kogi State

Medical sources report both priests are now stable and showing positive response to medical care.

In response to the violent incident, the Abuja Grand Commandery of the Noble Order of the Knights of St. John International issued a strong denunciation of the attack, characterizing it as a brutal assault on innocent religious figures and an alarming sign of deteriorating security conditions in Abuja and surrounding regions.

The organization’s statement was issued under the signatures of Grand President Brigadier General Francis Ulonna Njoku and Grand Secretary Colonel Etta Peters.

“We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the heinous, barbaric, and reprehensible attack on Catholic priests at the Parish House of St. Rita Catholic Church, Unity Estate, Mararaba, Nasarawa State,” the statement read.

The Knights characterized the incident as part of an alarming trend of violent acts targeting houses of worship and religious figures in the Federal Capital Territory and neighboring areas.

“This vicious assault is not only a direct attack on innocent clergy but also a grave affront to the sanctity of human life, religious institutions, and the moral fabric of our society,” the statement added.

The organization demanded that law enforcement and security bodies conduct an immediate investigation, capture those responsible, and prosecute them expeditiously.

The Order additionally pressed governments at every administrative level to enhance protective measures for religious facilities and congregations to forestall similar attacks.

The Knights also voiced their support for the Catholic Diocese of Lafia, its clergy, and St. Rita Catholic Church’s congregation, while requesting prayers for the priests’ swift recovery and enduring peace in the communities affected by violence.