Benue Bishop Warns U.S. Congress: Whole Communities Erased as Christian Killings Intensify in Nigeria
Story: written by Joseph November 21,2025
Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Benue State, has told the United States Congress that Nigeria is witnessing a quiet yet rapidly intensifying campaign of mass killings aimed at Christian communities, urging international leaders to intervene without delay.
Speaking during a congressional hearing focused on reports of religious violence in Nigeria, the Bishop stressed that the situation has deteriorated significantly since his previous testimony.
He explained that despite earlier warnings, the past six months have shown that the crisis was even worse than initially described, as armed groups continue to unleash deadly assaults on Christian-dominated towns and villages across the Middle Belt and beyond.
He reminded lawmakers that on 22 May 2025, his own hometown in Gwer West Local Government Area was overrun by attackers, leading to the murder of several members of his extended family.
He added that a convoy transporting reverend sisters and their relatives was forced to flee as the parish itself came under fire, while nearby settlements — including Naka — were invaded in the days that followed.
The Bishop also recounted the killing of a clergyman only two days later:
“On 24 May 2025, one of my priests, Brother Solomon Atongo, was shot and left bleeding on the ground. Those travelling with him were kidnapped. Although he survived, a shattered bone has left him permanently affected.”
Bishop Anagbe further recalled the Palm Sunday attacks of 6 April 2025, where Fulani militias launched synchronized raids on Christian communities in Benue State as part of a broader Holy Week assault targeting believers preparing for Easter.
He referenced the gruesome Yelwata massacre, where over 178 people were slaughtered on 18 June 2025.
“The assailants shouted chants as they butchered their victims. Despite repeated appeals, including prayers from the Holy Father on 14 June, the Nigerian authorities still downplay the death toll and have failed to properly support survivors,” he said.
He added that kidnappings of clergy remain rampant:
“On 17 November 2025, a priest from Kaduna Archdiocese was abducted, his brother killed, and several people taken hostage.
That same day, a school in Kendi State was attacked, with many students kidnapped and the vice-principal murdered.”
He also mentioned reports of militants capturing a Brigadier General and several soldiers, which he said highlights the alarming spread of insecurity across the country.
According to Bishop Anagbe, millions of people have been displaced from their homes, while farmlands are being emptied and destroyed, deepening hunger and worsening a growing humanitarian emergency.
He accused the Nigerian government of failing to confront the killings:
“National leadership seems detached, treating reports of Christian genocide as trivial rather than a national disaster. This lack of urgency weakens public trust and fuels the belief that the authorities are indifferent or complicit.”
The Bishop expressed gratitude to the United States for renewed international attention and called for decisive action:
“On behalf of millions of Christians in Nigeria and abroad, we thank President Donald J. Trump for classifying Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern. It is an important step, but meaningful action must follow.
“Our displaced people must be able to return home with guaranteed safety. They need help rebuilding their farms, their schools, their basic services. Legislation like the Nigerian Religious Freedom Accountability Act needs to be strengthened to ensure perpetrators face justice.”
However, during the same hearing, Congresswoman Sara Jacobs criticized the Trump administration’s stance, condemning the former president’s threat of military action against Nigeria.
She argued that the crisis is more complex than portrayed:
“President Trump’s threat is irresponsible, and launching military action in Nigeria without congressional approval is illegal. Congress has not authorised the use of force in Nigeria,” she said.
Jacobs emphasized that both Christians and Muslims are victims of the violence and insisted that the Nigerian government must take stronger measures to protect all citizens.
