Bishop Anagbe Under Fire for US Testimony on Repression of Christians in Nigeria

Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi Diocese is facing escalating threats and official rebuke after publicly highlighting the ongoing persecution of Christians in Benue State, Nigeria.

The Bishop’s recent testimony before the United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa sparked a strong reaction from the Nigerian government, which accuses him of spreading misinformation.

Bishop Anagbe has been vocal about the attacks carried out by Fulani militants against Christian farmers, leading to widespread displacement and loss of life.

He alleges a deliberate campaign of Islamization is underway in the country, and is drawing attention to the destruction of churches and the targeting of clergy.

“My diocese has lost about 15 parishes between 2018 and 2024,” Bishop Anagbe stated in a recent interview with The Catholic Register, conducted while travelling in Scotland. “Between 2015 and 2025 we have had 140-something priests kidnapped, some killed and some only regain their freedom after ransom has been paid. We’ve had churches destroyed — there have been a lot of attacks even on festive days.”

The Bishop pointed to the horrific Christmas Day massacre in Anwase, Benue State, where 47 Christians were killed and eight parish buildings, including a church and clinic, were burned to the ground, as reported by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

Responding to the Bishop’s statements, Kimembi Imomotomi Ebienfa, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asserted on March 14th that Anagbe’s remarks contribute to “the recent wave of misinformation and misleading reports regarding the supposed targeting of Christians in Nigeria.” While acknowledging existing “security challenges,” the government denies a specific targeting of Christians.

Bishop Anagbe vehemently refuted this claim, challenging the government to examine the statistics. “If they are not targeted as Christians, let us look at the statistics of what has happened,” he said. “How many mosques have been destroyed vis-a-vis the Catholic churches or Christian churches that have been burned down? How many imams have been kidnapped?”

The situation has now escalated to a personal threat against the Bishop. On March 28th, Father Remigus Ihyula, who is accompanying Bishop Anagbe on his travels, received a message from the Nigerian embassy in Abuja warning that an arrest warrant “might be” issued for Bishop Anagbe upon his return to Nigeria.