U.S. condemns threats against Catholic clerics who reported killings of Christians in Nigeria to Congress
The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria has condemned reports of intimidation and threats directed against Catholic Bishop Wilfred Anagbe and Revd Fr Remigius Ihyula for giving testimony before the U.S. Congress regarding the killings of Christians in Nigeria.
“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 (HFAC) on the human rights situation in Nigeria’s Middle Belt,” the embassy said in a tweet on Thursday.
In a recent interview with The Catholic Register, Messrs Anagbe and Ihyula alleged threats against them following their appearance before members of the U.S. Congress last month, where they claimed Fulani militants were killing or forcibly displacing Christian farmers in Benue.
The Catholic clerics had told the committee that “the experience of the Nigerian Christians today can be summed up as that of a Church under Islamist extermination”.
“My diocese has lost about 15 parishes between 2018 and 2024,” Mr Anagbe claimed. “Between 2015 and 2025 we have had 140-something priests kidnapped, some killed and some only regain their freedom after ransom has been paid. We’ve had churches destroyed — there have been a lot of attacks even on festive days.”
They further criticised the Nigerian authorities for failing to stop the killings.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
World
Human Rights Watch warns Burundi set to win UNHRC seat unopposed despite killings, disappearances
Human Rights Watch said Burundi had yet to implement reforms to address human rights abuse concerns.
NationWide
NHRC urges FG to expand access to mental health care
“We also urge the full implementation of the National Mental Health Act and Policy, with clear accountability,” Mr Ojukwu said.
States
NDLEA arrests 108 suspects, seizes 1.8 tonnes of illicit drugs in Kaduna
NDLEA said cannabis sativa accounted for the largest quantity, with 1,874.843 kilogrammes seized during the operations.
States
PHED blames higher electricity bills on feeder upgrades
The PHED official said some customers were experiencing higher tariffs following the migration of their feeders to Band A.
States
Adamawa commends FG on pilot ranching programme
Mr Lamurde said the state government had allocated about 9,000 hectares of land to the federal government for the ranching project.
World
U.S. federal agents raid Democratic Rep Ilhan Omar’s home
Ms Omar’s Washington, D.C., home was raided by federal agents, “early Monday morning as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”
