A wave of fear has gripped northern Benin following a brazen attack by jihadists on the village of Kalalé, located in the Diocese of N’Dali
Newsroom (15/09/2025, Gaudium Press ) A wave of fear has gripped northern Benin following a brazen attack by jihadists on the village of Kalalé, located in the Diocese of N’Dali, on September 10, 2025. The assault, attributed to a jihadist group operating from neighboring Nigeria, targeted security forces in a calculated attempt to destabilize the region, according to His Excellency Msgr. Martin Adjou Moumouni, Bishop of N’Dali.
“The jihadists have announced further attacks. The population is very worried,” Bishop Moumouni told Fides in an exclusive interview. He revealed that the attackers’ primary objective was to kidnap soldiers and police officers to secure the release of their imprisoned leader in Benin. Over 200 jihadists stormed Kalalé, attempting to overrun the local police station and ambushing soldiers from a nearby military base by barricading a road leading to the village. “Thankfully, no civilian or security personnel casualties have been reported,” the bishop noted, crediting the resilience of local forces.
However, the attack left a lingering toll. Six residents of Kalalé were abducted during the raid, raising fears for their safety. “Surely they were taken to Nigeria, to the forest where the jihadists have their hideouts,” Bishop Moumouni said, drawing from the harrowing account of a chaplain who, along with four others, was kidnapped on July 27 near the Benin-Nigeria border. The chaplain, recently released with one other captive, described being blindfolded, forced to march through dense forests, and navigating a river by canoe to reach a remote detention site. “I can only imagine their torture,” the bishop said somberly.
Of the five abducted in July, two have been freed, leaving nine individuals—six from Kalalé and three from the earlier incident—still in jihadist captivity. The bishop expressed deep concern for their fate, compounded by the group’s explicit threats to escalate attacks and disrupt the Church’s pastoral work in the region. “They want to prevent the Church from continuing its mission,” he said, underscoring the broader implications for religious freedom and community stability.
Bishop Moumouni remains in close contact with military authorities, who convened with government officials in Cotonou to address the crisis. “They have promised to inform me of measures to ensure the safety of our people and allow us to continue our pastoral activities,” he said, hopeful yet cautious as the diocese braces for potential further violence.
The attack on Kalalé marks a troubling escalation in jihadist activity spilling over from Nigeria, where insurgent groups have long exploited porous borders to expand their reach. As Benin grapples with this growing threat, the Diocese of N’Dali stands at a critical juncture, balancing its mission of faith with the urgent need for security.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Agenzia Fides
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