The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Wilfred Anagbe, has called on the United States to back its recent designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) with tangible actions.
Speaking on Thursday before the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa, which is reviewing President Donald Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a CPC, Bishop Anagbe praised the move but stressed that it must be paired with concrete measures.
“On behalf of millions of Christians in Nigeria and abroad, we thank President Trump for his leadership in designating Nigeria as a CPC,” he said. “It is an important step, but it must be backed by serious action, including targeted sanctions under the Magnitsky Act against Nigerian officials who tolerate or condone violence.”
The Bishop also called on lawmakers to link security and humanitarian aid to verifiable improvements on the ground. “Humanitarian support for internally displaced persons (IDPs) must be expanded. They need guarantees of security to return safely to their homes,” he said.
He further urged assistance for rebuilding livelihoods and endorsed the proposed Nigerian Religious Freedom Accountability Act, emphasizing that holding perpetrators accountable is critical to halting ongoing violence. “Supporting economic recovery, education, and sanitation is essential. Impunity only fuels further attacks,” Bishop Anagbe added.
Describing the ongoing trauma faced by Christian communities in Benue, he recounted the plight of victims, including a priest who remains unable to walk after surviving a terrorist assault. He accused the federal government of downplaying casualties and neglecting survivors.
While acknowledging that the CPC designation brought “joy, hope, and spiritual resilience” to communities under threat, the Bishop warned that the measure alone cannot stop the killings. “The question is simple: are there killings in Nigeria? The government must stop them. Political, military, and humanitarian interventions are required,” he said.
Bishop Anagbe urged US lawmakers to leverage every tool of influence to demand change, stressing America’s role in defending religious freedom globally.
The renewed CPC designation, announced by President Trump on October 31, 2025, cited systematic persecution of Christians in Nigeria. The Nigerian government has firmly rejected the claim, while Trump indicated that military options were being considered.
