Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi has issued a grave warning to the United States House Subcommittee on Africa, saying Christianity is on the brink of being extinguished in parts of Northern and Middle Belt Nigeria.
Speaking before U.S. lawmakers, Anagbe said Nigeria is experiencing “one of its bleakest moments” for Christian communities, pointing to persistent killings, mass displacements, and targeted assaults carried out “without consequence.”
According to him, the pattern of violence shows an organised attempt to eliminate Christian populations and erase their cultural and religious heritage.
“Christianity is at risk of disappearing from several areas of the North and Middle Belt within a short time,” the bishop warned.
He stressed that attacks, kidnappings and wanton destruction have escalated, even after the United States under President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.
He described that action as a much-needed alert to the world.
Anagbe said millions of displaced individuals remain trapped in camps, unable to return home, threatening community survival, economic stability, and continuity of tradition.
He added that sexual violence against women is being used as a weapon of war, a tactic he said aims to ensure entire Christian bloodlines do not survive.
The bishop recounted recent tragedies, including a deadly May 22 assault on his hometown that claimed the lives of several relatives.
He also spoke of the attack on Father Solomon Atongo on May 24, who was shot and left for dead.
Though the priest survived, he now struggles to walk due to a fractured bone.
He cited violent incidents in Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, and Kogi states, including the June 13 massacre in Yelwata, Benue, where 278 people, including children, were reportedly killed.
“It took prayers from the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, before the Nigerian government even acknowledged the atrocity,”
he said.
Anagbe criticised the Federal Government for what he described as a refusal to confront the worsening crisis.
He posed a sharp question to U.S. lawmakers:
“Who is killing Muslims in the North? Is there any Christian militia displacing people and occupying land in Nigeria?”
He attributed the deepening crisis to extremist groups, Fulani militants, Boko Haram, and ISWAP, spreading their activities further south, worsening food shortages and contributing to one of Africa’s largest displacement emergencies.
The bishop expressed gratitude to the subcommittee and to President Donald Trump for his stance on religious freedom but maintained that declarations alone are insufficient.
He called for a range of interventions: targeted sanctions, increased humanitarian support for internally displaced persons, passage of the Nigerian Religious Freedom and Accountability Act and pressure on Nigeria to abolish discriminatory and blasphemy laws.
“The Church cannot halt the killings on its own. What we need is coordinated political, military and humanitarian action,”
he emphasised.
Anagbe concluded with a sobering appeal:
“Time is running out for Christian communities. We cannot afford further inaction, it only emboldens extremists.”
