Nigerian Bishop calls on UK government to protect persecuted Christians
A Nigerian bishop has strongly condemned the ongoing mass killings of Christians by Islamist extremists and militant Fulani herdsmen.
Speaking at a parliamentary event on Tuesday, Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi, currently visiting the UK as a guest of the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), shared the devastating impact of the violence on his diocese.
Representing Nigeria’s Middle Belt, Bishop Wilfred stated that Islamist extremists and militant Fulani herdsmen are deliberately targeting Christians. He explained that many in his community have been forced to flee their homes due to relentless attacks, with houses burned down and survivors seeking refuge in internal displacement camps.
He emphasized that Christian communities in Benue State, which includes Makurdi, have suffered repeated assaults. Farmers have been driven from their land, churches destroyed, and both clergy and laypeople have lost their lives.
“The militant Fulani herdsmen descend on defenseless villagers without consequence,” he said. “They act under orders to conquer, kill, and occupy. Even those who escape to displacement camps remain unsafe.”
Bishop Wilfred described the situation as an act of “Islamist extermination” and criticized the Nigerian government for its failure to address the crisis.
“When we call for help from the police and army, they do not respond,” he stated. “At the end of 2024, several villages were warned of impending attacks. Community leaders alerted security forces in advance, yet no assistance was provided. The Christmas massacres went ahead as feared, claiming hundreds of lives in Plateau and Benue, with the deadliest attack killing 47 people.”
He urged the UK government to pressure Nigerian authorities to take action, calling for the safe return of displaced individuals to their ancestral homes so they can begin to rebuild. He also demanded accountability for the perpetrators and full compensation for victims of religious persecution.
Dr. Caroline Hull, ACN’s national director for the UK, underscored the urgency of the bishop’s appeal, stating: “His powerful testimony in Parliament today highlights the horror and suffering endured by Christians in Benue State. While ACN is providing support, the Nigerian government must take responsibility and uphold religious freedom in accordance with international law.”
Bishop Wilfred further called for Nigeria to be reinstated on the US Department of State’s list of ‘Countries of Particular Concern’ under the Religious Freedom Act of 1998.
The issue of Christian persecution is scheduled for parliamentary debate next month, with Labour MP Ruth Jones of Newport West and Islwyn leading the discussion.