Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi has told the United States Congress that Christian communities in Nigeria are facing an intensifying campaign of extermination.
He testified at a congressional hearing reviewing claims of Christian persecution, saying the situation has deteriorated sharply since his last appearance before the committee.
The Bishop said attacks on Christian villages have continued across the Middle Belt, proving that earlier warnings understated the scale of the crisis.
He recalled the 22 May 2025 invasion of his community in Gwer West Local Government Area, where members of his extended family were killed and many residents displaced.
He added that a convoy of reverend sisters and their relatives also came under attack, while nearby settlements such as Naka suffered similar raids.
The cleric narrated how another assault occurred two days later, leaving a priest critically injured and others abducted.
“On 24 May 2025, one of my priests, Brother Solomon Atongo, was shot and left to die in a pool of his blood. Those travelling with him were abducted. Although he survived, he can no longer walk freely due to a broken bone.”
He said Christian communities also came under coordinated attacks on Palm Sunday, describing the violence as part of a wider onslaught during Holy Week.
The Bishop referenced the Yelwata massacre of 18 June, where more than 178 people were killed, accusing authorities of downplaying the scale of the tragedy.
He said kidnappings of clergy remain rampant, citing the 17 November abduction of a Kaduna priest whose brother was also killed during the incident.
He noted that a school was attacked the same day in Kendi State, leaving many kidnapped and the vice-principal dead.
Bishop Anagbe added that militants recently captured a Brigadier General and other soldiers, stressing that the insecurity now affects every level of society.
He warned that millions have been displaced from their homes and farms, creating severe hunger and heightening the humanitarian crisis.
The Bishop accused the government of failing to respond decisively, saying Christian communities feel abandoned.
“National leadership appears disengaged, treating reports of Christian genocide as a non-issue instead of a national emergency. This lack of political will undermines trust and breeds perceptions of complicity or indifference.”
He thanked the United States for renewed attention and called for stronger international measures to support affected communities.
“On behalf of millions of Christians in Nigeria and in the diaspora, we thank President Donald J. Trump for his bold leadership in designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern. It is a vital step, but it must be backed by serious action.… Legislation such as the Nigerian Religious Freedom Accountability Act must be strengthened to hold perpetrators accountable.”
During the hearing, Congresswoman Sara Jacobs rejected Trump’s posture on the crisis, accusing him of oversimplifying a complex conflict.
“President Trump’s threat is reckless, and any unilateral military action in Nigeria is illegal. Congress has not authorised force in Nigeria to protect Christians,” she said, urging the Nigerian government to strengthen security across all affected communities.