A Nigerian bishop who testified before the U.S. Congress in March about Christian persecution is now facing threats, and his home village has suffered a deadly attack.
Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Makurdi Diocese in north-central Nigeria said that shortly after his testimony in Washington, his region was hit by four deadly attacks in just 10 days, carried out by what he described as “terrorist jihadists.”
“Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian,” said Open Doors International in its 2025 World Watch List. Of 4,476 Christians killed globally during the reporting period, 3,100—nearly 70%—were in Nigeria. The NGO warned that jihadist violence in the country continues to escalate, especially from militant groups like Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Fulani extremists.
A prominent church leader, using the pseudonym “Pastor Winyadebi” for his safety, confirmed ongoing religiously targeted violence. “The communities being attacked are Christian communities,” he said. “The goal is to wipe out Christianity and impose Islamic rule.”
Bishop Anagbe testified before Congress to highlight these escalating attacks in Benue State, which has a majority-Christian population. Following his testimony, several foreign embassies in Nigeria reportedly warned him of credible threats, including possible detention upon his return and further harm. U.S. Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), who hosted Anagbe during the hearing, condemned the reported threats, calling them a “troubling pattern of retaliation” against those who speak out on religious freedom abuses in Nigeria.
The U.S. Mission in Nigeria echoed these concerns in an April 10 post on X (formerly Twitter), calling for the bishop’s right to speak freely without fear, and acknowledging threats made against him since his testimony.
Soon after, the violence intensified. According to Anagbe:
- On May 23, Father Solomon Atongo, a priest in his diocese, was shot in the leg.
- On May 25, the bishop’s own village of Aondona was attacked for hours. Over 20 people were killed, many injured, and thousands displaced.
- On June 1, Naka town was hit, displacing even those who had previously fled and were sheltering in a school.
“These are terror attacks meant to drive out villagers and take over their land,” Anagbe said. “It’s a jihad. They rename the places they conquer.”
He added that his past warnings were often dismissed as political rhetoric. “But after my testimony, many now see the truth.”
Concluding with a global appeal, the bishop warned: “The world must act now. If we keep silent in the name of political correctness, we risk witnessing a genocide worse than Rwanda. Silence is complicity.”
The Nigerian government did not respond to the request for comment. However, The Catholic Herald reported that Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged the bishop’s testimony and pledged to investigate any credible threats against religious leaders.
Fox News
