Bishop Anagbe: Nigerian Priest Who Championed Nigeria’s CPC Designation
Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe is a prominent Nigerian Catholic prelate, Claretian missionary, and vocal advocate for religious freedom amid escalating violence against Christians in Nigeria.
As the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi in Benue State (in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region), he has become a key figure in international efforts to highlight what he describes as an “Islamist extermination” campaign targeting Christians, including killings, kidnappings, land seizures, and village renaming by militant Fulani herdsmen.
His bold testimony before US lawmakers on March 12, 2025, played a pivotal role in the recent redesignation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the US International Religious Freedom Act—a status that enables potential sanctions and diplomatic pressure on the Nigerian government to address these atrocities.
Early Life and Path to Priesthood
Born and raised in peril, Anagbe hails from Aondoana village in Benue, a predominantly Christian farming community that has been repeatedly ravaged by violence. He was born into a Tiv ethnic family, one of Nigeria’s largest Christian groups in the north-central region.
Claretian Missionary
He joined the Claretian Missionaries (Missionaries of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) and was ordained a priest in 1994 after studying philosophy and theology in Nigeria and abroad. His early ministry focused on pastoral work, education, and humanitarian aid in rural areas plagued by ethnic and religious tensions.
Rise to Episcopacy
In 2015, Pope Francis appointed him as the second Bishop of Makurdi, succeeding Bishop William Avenya. At the time, the diocese was already reeling from Boko Haram insurgency spillover and Fulani militancy, with thousands displaced.
Advocacy Against Christian Persecution
Anagbe’s leadership has been defined by his unflinching criticism of the Nigerian government’s “conspiracy of silence” in the face of what he calls systematic religious cleansing.
Key highlights
US Congressional Testimony (March 12, 2025): During a hearing of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa titled “Conflict and Persecution in Nigeria: The Case for a CPC Designation,” Anagbe delivered a harrowing account of the crisis. He detailed over 900 Christian deaths in Benue State alone that year, the abduction of more than 140 priests in the past decade, and the failure of security forces to respond to distress calls.
“The experience of the Nigerian Christians today can be summed up as that of a Church under Islamist extermination,” he stated, urging the US to redesignate Nigeria as a CPC to hold the government accountable.
Personal Risks
Shortly after his testimony, Fulani militants attacked his hometown of Aondoana on May 24-26, 2025, killing at least 42 people (some reports cite over 70) and displacing hundreds—including 12 of Anagbe’s relatives.
Diocesan priests and international groups, including Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) and the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), raised alarms over threats to his safety, including potential detention by Nigerian authorities upon his return.
Broader Impact
Anagbe has linked the violence to an “Islamic agenda” to conquer West Africa, citing forced closures of Catholic schools during Ramadan and blasphemy laws enforced by northern states that carry the death penalty. Organisations like InterSociety report 52,000 Christians killed and 20,000 churches destroyed since 2009.
The CPC Designation
A Direct Response to His CallAnagbe’s advocacy culminated in a major victory on November 4, 2025, when US President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a CPC—the first such action since 2020, despite four consecutive USCIRF recommendations. Trump cited ongoing killings of Christians and warned of US consequences, including potential military action, if the Nigerian government fails to act.
Anagbe hailed it as an “answer to my prayer and cry as a bishop, priest, and Christian,” crediting allies like former USCIRF Commissioner Nina Shea and advocacy groups such as Equipping the Persecuted and Truth Nigeria.
The move overrides previous hesitations and signals swift US response, bypassing the typical “grace period” for Nigeria to reform.
Current Role and Legacy
Today, at around 60 years old, Bishop Anagbe continues to shepherd a diocese of over 1 million Catholics, providing aid to internally displaced persons (IDPs) through Catholic relief efforts.
He has received praise from global figures, including Pentecostal leaders in Nigeria, for his courage—earning calls for national awards. His story underscores the human cost of Nigeria’s religious fault lines, where farmers vs. herders conflicts often mask deeper jihadist motives.
As one analyst noted, Anagbe “not only said it all but truly deserves the highest national and global awards for speaking out in defense of humanity.”
Anagbe’s work remains a beacon for persecuted Christians, blending pastoral care with fearless global diplomacy.