By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The National Association of Catholic Lawyers of Nigeria, NACL, has cautioned against any plot to arrest the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Most Rev’d Wilfred Anagbe over his recent revelations on the state of insecurity in Benue state and other parts of the country while addressing the United States House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa during a hearing in America.

Recall that Bishop Anagbe had in his presentation at the hearing recounted the ordeal of Christians in Nigeria and the attacks and killings of Benue farmers by armed herdsmen and insurgents and allegedly urged the American government to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.”

Addressing the media weekend in Makurdi on the reactions that have trailed the outcry of the cleric, the President of NACL, Makurdi Diocese, Mr. Polycarp Aande flanked by officials of the association  noted the attention of the NACL Makurdi Diocese to the uncomplimentary and uninformed statements against Bishop Anagbe “regarding his testimonies before the United States House on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa on March 12, 2025.

“Information available to the Association shows that the Bishop anchored his plea on the plight of Christians in Nigeria, their increasing persecution which has remained unabated and called on the US and UK to re-designate Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern.’ Recall that Nigeria had borne the status in the past.  

“It is unfortunate that his plea has triggered responses, reactions and backlash from key government figures. Prominent among those embittered by the plea of the Bishop is the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), who allegedly accused the Bishop of spreading ‘islamophobic tropes’ and called for his interrogation for the alleged hate speech, while Muslim Public Affairs Centre, MPAC, has described the Bishop’s remarks as misleading and dangerous, accusing him of making unsubstantiated allegations regarding the persecution of Christians in Benue State.”

The NACL observed that “the attacks and calls for action against the Bishop are not only troubling but are considered by the association to be unnecessary, excessive and unwarranted. Giving this disturbing development, the Association feels compelled to and most firmly support Bishop Anagbe in condemning the unprovoked attacks and killings of Christians by armed herdsmen in Nigeria.

“The Association further condemns calls for the arrest and prosecution of the Bishop, urging Christians and well- meaning Nigerians to rise in defence of the Christian faith.

“NACL Makurdi Diocese also views these responses and attacks on the Bishop as unnecessary, ill-conceived, unwarranted and misplaced considering the available statistics and facts presented by His Lordship the Bishop before the international community.

“We know as of fact that, between the period 2018 to 2024, Nigeria has lost about 15 Parishes, 124 Priests kidnapped, some killed, and others regained freedom but at very high cost, many churches have been destroyed. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) reported the 2024 Christmas Day massacre that claimed the lives of 47 Christians attending a service in Anwase in the Diocese of Gboko, Benue State. Adults and children were killed, and eight parish buildings- including the church and clinic were burnt to ashes. Similarly in April, 2018, two priests and over 17 parishioners were massacred in the morning Mass at St Ignatius Parish Ayar- Mbalom in Benue State.

“On 5 June, 2022 a mass shooting and bomb attack occurred in the Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria, killing over 40 people with the highest estimate being around 80 persons. Between October, 2019 and September 2023 terrorist groups killed 55,910 people abducted 21,000 others in Nigeria.

“Quite recently on April 9, 2025 an attack occurred just seven-minutes -drive from the State Capital, Makurdi, claiming the lives of at least 15 farmers, displaced scores of residents and left several others missing. According to eyewitness account, the heavily armed assailants stormed the village under the cover of darkness, unleashing a barrage of gunfire and setting homes ablaze.

“It is instructive to not that, these attacks are not limited to Benue State, and the attack on Christians and Church infrastructures is growing simultaneously, alarmingly and uncontrollably all over Nigeria. The docility and complacency on the part of government, individuals, Christians, Civil Society Organizations leaves much to be desired.

“The appeal by the Bishop of Makurdi Diocese would not have come at a time better than now, his testimony is apt, true, cogent and compelling. His assertion is not in anyway, misleading, misinformed or amounting to hate speech. It goes without doubt that, the Bishop has remained a vocal voice and a front-liner against Islamist terrorism over the years.

“There is forceful closure of schools in some parts of the region, including Catholic institutions, particularly during the Ramadan. This includes Kastina, Kebbi, Bauchi and Kano States. Many Christian farmers have been forced to abandon their ancestral homes for fear of being killed by armed herdersmen.

“There is no gainsaying that, killings are going on unabated on a daily basis, with less attention on the part of the government. The Bishop like he said, has spoken for his flock, for the voiceless and for millions of IDPS currently in camps without the near hope of returning to their ancestral homes.

“The Constitutional mandate and primary responsibility of every government is the protection of lives and properties of its citizenry. This responsibility is sacrosanct and non-negotiable.

“It is based on this background and several other authorities that Catholic Lawyers of the Diocese of Makurdi hereby rise to strongly condemn calls for the arrest and prosecution of the Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Makurdi Most Rev’d Wilfred Anagbe and Rev Fr. Remigius Ihyula for daring to speak for the cause of truth as contained in their passionate appeal to the international community.

“The calls for their arrest and prosecution are misplaced, ill-conceived, unnecessary, unwarranted and onerous, we call on Christians all over the world to rise to the occasion in the defence and support of the Bishop. We are firmly in support of the Bishop and shall do everything necessary within the ambit of the law to resist any form of intimidation and threats to his life.

“We therefore call on the government of Nigeria both Federal and States, all relevant authorities, to as a matter of urgency prioritize and re-double their efforts in the fight against insecurity and armed herdersmen invasion. The armed forces and other security agencies must not hesitate to handle insecurity with vigor, in order to restore stability back to Nigeria.

“The Association is watching and monitoring closely as events unfold and shall not hesitate to invoke any lawful means to ensure that the Bishop is not kowtowed or bullied into compromise.”