Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi has sounded the alarm over the existential threat facing Christianity in parts of Northern and Middle-Belt Nigeria, testifying before the United States House Subcommittee on Africa.
The PUNCH reported that Anagbe told United States lawmakers on Thursday that the country is entering “one of its darkest periods” for Christians, highlighting the relentless killings, mass displacement, and targeted attacks carried out “with impunity.”
“Christianity risks elimination in parts of Northern and Middle-Belt Nigeria within a very short time,” the bishop said, framing the violence as a deliberate attempt to eradicate Christian communities and erase their cultural and religious identity.
He noted that the crises—marked by killings, kidnappings, and widespread destruction, have intensified despite recent international attention, including Nigeria’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern by former US President Donald Trump. Anagbe described the move as “a serious, well-founded wakeup call.”
“Millions of displaced persons remain in camps, unable to return to their ancestral lands. This threatens cultural continuity, religious and economic survival,” he added, further emphasizing that women “endure sexual violence as a weapon,” a tactic aimed at ensuring that “no more Christians will be born from so many traumatised women.”
The bishop recounted recent attacks in his own community, including the May 22 assault on his hometown that claimed the lives of several of his relatives.
“An entire convent of Reverend Sisters of the Order of St. Clare was displaced, along with the local Catholic parish,” he said. He also described the May 24 attempt on Father Solomon Atongo, who was “shot and left to die in the pool of his blood. Though he survived the attack, he is unable to walk freely because he has a broken bone.”
Anagbe referenced widespread violence across Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, and Kogi, highlighting the June 13 massacre in Yelwata, Benue State, where he said 278 people, men, women, and children, were slaughtered.
“It took the prayers of the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, for the government in Nigeria to even acknowledge this evil,” he said.
He accused the Federal Government of failing to address the crisis, saying, “The government of Nigeria’s silence and refusal to engage in the fates of continued killings and displacements has deepened feelings of abandonment among the people.”
He questioned the selective attention given to the violence, asking, “Who is killing the Muslims up north? Is there any Christian militia displacing millions and occupying lands in Nigeria?”
According to Anagbe, extremist groups, including militants, Boko Haram, and ISWAP, are moving further south, worsening food insecurity and driving one of Africa’s largest displacement crises. “Violence is spreading southward, displacing millions and destroying farmland,” he noted.
The bishop expressed gratitude to the subcommittee for its continued focus and specifically thanked President Trump for the CPC designation.
“On behalf of millions of Christians in Nigeria and in the diaspora, we want to thank President Donald Trump for his bold leadership in designating Nigeria as a CPC,” he said.
However, Anagbe emphasized that recognition must be followed by action. He called for measures such as targeted sanctions, expanded humanitarian support for internally displaced persons, and the enactment of the Nigerian Religious Freedom and Accountability Act.
“This point cannot be overemphasised because it is impunity that fuels the violence we suffer,” he told the committee. He also urged allies to challenge discriminatory laws and work toward eliminating blasphemy laws.
Closing his testimony, Anagbe issued a solemn warning, “The church alone cannot stop the killings. It requires coordinated political, military and humanitarian intervention.”
His final plea was urgent, “Mr Chairman and members, we cannot afford to wait any longer. Please enact concrete actions according to the CPC designation. We all know that inaction emboldens the extremists even more.”
