Catholic Church RANSACKED: Tribal Militias With Pickaxes Strip Ethiopian Parish to the Bones
Ethiopian Church Attack Leaves "Not Even a Teaspoon" as Looters Destroy Christian Mission
Warring tribes attacked a Catholic church in Ethiopia with pickaxes and metal bars, looting the compound so thoroughly that Father David Kulandai Samy said they left "not even a teaspoon."
Clashes between the Anyuak and Nuer tribes led to the December 18, 2025 assault on the parish compound in Itang, starting at dawn when the Nuer tribe occupied the presbytery and church surroundings.
Large groups arrived with more than 20 dump trucks and heavy weapons, robbing people at gunpoint and breaking into houses. Mass kits, altar cloths, electrical goods and school items were all stolen.
The looters took Fr Samy's belongings, including clothes, identity cards, and food intended for children.
A statue of Jesus was stolen and a new crib was destroyed.
Catholic Faithful Join the Looting
Fr Samy described the incident as an "unforgettable day and scare in the history of Itang Catholic mission" to charity Aid to the Church in Need.
"In this tragic incident, what was more painful is to know some of them who came to loot were our own catholic Faithful, catechists, youth leaders and choir members belonging to that particular ethnic group," he said.
When Fr Samy returned in January to secure the site, he found bullet holes in the walls of the presbytery and church, with roof sheets severely damaged.
"It is heart breaking to see a developing mission collapse to zero again… all property damaged, looted and people killed, wounded and scattered. May God help and give us courage to continue in his mission," he added.
Dr Caroline Hull, Aid to the Church in Need national director, visited Ethiopia weeks before the attack, warning the situation was rapidly declining amid flooding and escalating "ethnic violence." At least two other parishes were also attacked and badly damaged.
THE CRUSADER'S OPINION
People who sang worship songs on Sunday morning showed up with pickaxes on Wednesday.
This is what ethnic tribalism does when it supersedes Christ.
When cultural identity matters more than the cross, Christians become enemies overnight.
Ethiopia's church is collapsing under ethnic violence while the West ignores it.
No hashtags. No outrage. No CNN coverage.
Just another Christian mission destroyed.
Another priest left with nothing.
Where is the global outcry? Where are the sanctions? Where is the aid?
This is persecution. This is ethnic cleansing with a religious target.
And the silence is deafening.
TAKE ACTION
Support Persecuted Ethiopian Christians:
- Aid to the Church in Need: acnuk.org/donate
- Email: info@acnuk.org
- Phone: 020 8642 8668
Pray for Fr David Samy and Itang Mission:
- Apostolic Vicariate of Gambella and Illubabor
- Contact ACN for direct support opportunities
Raise Awareness:
- Share this story on social media with #EthiopiaChurchAttack
- Contact your MP or representatives about Ethiopian Christian persecution
- Email your church leadership to organize prayer and support
Support Christian Refugee Relief:
- Open Doors International: opendoorsuk.org
- Barnabas Fund: barnabasfund.org
- Email: info@barnabasfund.org
Demand your church pray publicly for Ethiopian Christians. Write to government officials about ethnic violence targeting Christian missions. Donate specifically to Ethiopian church reconstruction through ACN. This mission went from thriving to zero. Christians must respond.
