You’re Downplaying Yilwatda Attacks, Abandoning Survivors, Bishop Anagbe Accuses FG

The Catholic Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, has accused the federal government of downplaying the scale of the recent Yilwatda attacks and abandoning the survivors of violence in his jurisdiction.

Speaking to reporters, Bishop Anagbe described the wave of attacks on Christian communities as a “silent genocide” and alleged that the perpetrators aim to “Islamise” Nigeria through systematic violence.

He claimed that in Yilwatda alone, over 200 people were killed, many allegedly burned alive in their homes, while numerous others were displaced.

According to the bishop, at least 15 Catholic parishes in his diocese have been forced to shut down following attacks that left communities sacked and displaced.

Survivors are now living in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, where the Church is providing spiritual, psychological, and material support, including education for children.

Bishop Anagbe expressed frustration at what he described as the federal government’s inadequate response.

“The security agencies have the capacity to stop the violence but lack the political will. Many of these attacks occurred close to military checkpoints, yet there was little or no intervention,” he said.

He accused authorities of failing to identify and prosecute the attackers, leaving victims without adequate support.

Highlighting the human toll, he called for immediate compensation for the victims and for displaced persons to be allowed to return to their ancestral lands.

The bishop also noted concerns for his personal safety, stating that some of his own villages have been attacked, and underscoring the risks faced by priests and clergy in the region.

Observers say the bishop’s statements highlight both the humanitarian crisis and the broader ethnic and religious tensions in Benue State, where repeated attacks by armed herders have destabilized communities and forced widespread displacement.

International human rights advocates have frequently cited Benue as a flashpoint in Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with communal violence.

Bishop Anagbe’s claims are likely to intensify calls for stronger government action to protect vulnerable communities and ensure accountability for perpetrators, as well as increased international attention on religious freedom and security in Nigeria.