Makurdi, 23 August, 2023 / 9:57 pm (ACI Africa).
Monday, August 21, David Igba, a Seminarian at Sacred Heart Udei Parish of Nigeria's Catholic Diocese of Makurdi stared death in the face when he encountered armed Fulani herdsmen.
A car that the Seminarian with Via Christi Society was traveling in with two other people was sprayed with bullets by a group of gun-wielding Fulani herders in the late morning incident.
Seminarian David told ACI Africa that the incident at a bridge linking Udei to Makurdi market happened while running an errand for Fr. Jacob Igah, the Priest in charge of the Nigerian Catholic Parish that continues to experience incessant attacks by Fulani herdsmen.
“It was around 11:30 in the morning. I had just left the parish and was headed to Makurdi market to print out some documents for Fr. Jacob. In the car, there was Fr. Jacob’s cook, the driver and myself. As we approached the bridge that links Udei to Makurdi, we saw people running ahead of our car. They had a large herd of cattle going ahead of them,” Seminarian David said in the Wednesday, August 23 interview with ACI Africa.
The Nigerian Seminarian continued, “As we approached the men, we kept talking, hoping that the men weren't Fulanis because we know what they are capable of. They kept running. I think they thought that we were soldiers. When they realized that we were not soldiers, they started shooting after our car.”