As Fulani Terrorists Occupy All Wards of the Bishop’s Home County
By Olikita Ekani
(Makurdi) A powerful U.S. Congressman has warned the Nigerian enemies of an outspoken Nigerian Bishop to back off.
Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, denounced recent threats against Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi Diocese after the Bishop’s frank testimony on March 12 embarrassed Nigerian authorities.
The bishop had shared his detailed experience of brutal acts against his Roman Catholic believers in the State of Benue where up to 2 million citizens have fled to squalid IDP camps chased by Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM).
“These alarming acts of intimidation—occurring both before and after my Congressional hearing—are not isolated,” said Chairman Smith, author of H.Res. 220—to designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). “They reflect a troubling pattern of retaliation linked to testimony before Congress on religious freedom abuses in Nigeria,” Smith wrote in a press release April 10. Smith has also authored H.R. 3654, The Transnational Repression Policy Act.
Chairman Smith’s March 12 hearing examined Nigeria’s dismal record on religious freedom and considered whether the U.S. should re-designate Nigeria as a CPC under the International Religious Freedom Act. Testimony spotlighted the systematic persecution of Christians, non-Fulani Muslims, and faith leaders advocating for tolerance—issues that appear to have triggered threats against individuals who testified or supported accountability efforts.
“I am appalled by reports that Bishop Wilfred Anagbe and Father Remigius Ihyula are facing threats—allegedly from Nigerian government sources and affiliated organizations—because of the bishop’s testimony before Congress detailing violence in Nigeria’s Benue State,” said Chairman Smith. “Credible sources now indicate that Bishop Anagbe may face detention upon returning to Nigeria, and I also fear there are some who would seek to do him physical harm.”
The U.S. Mission in Abujua ehoed Rep. Smith’s concern in their own public statement:
“The U.S. Mission in Nigeria is disturbed by this report of intimidation and threats against Nigerian religious leaders Bishop Wilfred Anagbe and Rev. Fr. Remigius because of their March 12 testimony before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee on the human rights situation in Nigeria’ Middle Belt,” according to the Mission. Such observations of concern for Christian persecution were unknown during the Administration of President Joe Biden.
Pogrom Ongoing in Bishop’s Hometown
The top executive of Gwer-West County, which includes the hometown of Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, has cried out for help as Fulani terrorists have finally completed the occupation of the county
“As I am talking to you, Fulani Jihadists have occupied 15 of the 15 Council Wards of Gwer-West Local Government (County), squeezing the entire residents of the county to Naka, the local government headquarters and Agagbe,” Chairman Victor Torsar Ormin told TruthNigeria in a phone call Thursday.
“This is to say, the entire local government is under Fulani occupation,” Ormin said.
This heart-touching appeal came only a few hours after another spate of attacks and killings across Gwer-West and Gwer-East counties of Benue State.
Killing of 4 Catholic farmers
In the latest round of endless attacks, killings and kidnappings in the two restive counties, armed Fulani militia on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, ambushed a Christian farmer on his way to his farm, along Atuku-Aondona road (home village of Bishop Anagbe). The farmer was slashed to death by machetes. The discovery of his body sparked another protest by Christian youths as his corpse was being brought to Naka town.
In Mbasombo community, in the adjoining Gwer-East County, Fulani Jihadists in the late hours of on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, invaded the community while residents were retiring to their beds after a hectic farming activity of the day, killing 3 persons and injuring many.
Gwer-West and Gwer are agrarian counties with fertile lands (famed for massive rice, yam, maize, fish and sorghum production), and predominantly Roman Catholic. Gwer-West shares border with Doma County in Nasarawa State and only separated by River Benue. Gwer-West with Headquarter in Naka, is located 34 miles (55km) Southwest of Makurdi, the State capital and 154 miles (249km) Southeast of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria while Gwer-East with its Headquarters in Aliade, is located 49 miles (79km) South South of Makurdi and 240 miles (355km) Southeast of Abuja.
“Our people have been surrounded by armed Fulani terrorists in all angles, and they have nowhere to go at the moment without being killed,” County Executive Ormin told TruthNigeria. “All the roads leading to Naka town have been occupied by the Jihadists, the Makurdi-Naka, Adoka-Naka, Taraku-Naka and even the road between Naka and Agagbe are all taken over by the terrorists,” he added.
“We are calling on the International Community as a matter of urgency, assist Nigerian Government to end the ongoing ethnic, religious cleansing against our people and occupation of our land,” he went on to say. Ormin said he couldn’t explain why the presence of Military in Naka could not stop the Fulani terrorists from carrying out their heinous crimes.
In October 2024 while sharing a devastating impacts of Fulani attacks, kidnappings and Killings in Gwer-West County, the Priest of St. Xavier Catholic Parish Agagbe, Rev. Fr Cletus Bua said, 8 out of the 15 Council Wards in the county were under occupation by the Jihadists. The total occupation of the county as claimed by the Chairman now marks a sharp and dangerous escalation of the crisis
Olikita Ekani is a Conflict Reporter with TruthNigeria.
