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DOMRADIO.DE: When you were in Europe in 2022, you said that the international community was paying too little attention to the situation of Christians in Nigeria. You spoke of the world's silence. Has anything changed since then?
Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe (Diocese of Makurdi): The issue of Christian persecution that you raise is not something that has only existed for a few years. It has been going on for more than 15 years and is getting worse every day. My first interview was translated into four languages. That alone created a certain awareness and corrected the narrative of our government at the time – namely, that the crisis was caused by climate change or external influences. In reality, that was not true.
On October 31, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, heard our petition and said that human rights violations and the killings of Christians and citizens were getting out of hand and that the government must finally take action.
DOMRADIO.DE: There was a lot of criticism when Donald Trump spoke about the situation in Nigeria, especially when he said that the government was not doing enough for Christians. How do you respond to that?
Anagbe: I don't know where this criticism came from. But was what Trump said a fact or a lie? Because people are being killed. It's not about how many coffins each side has. People are dying every day, and that's the truth. No reasonable government should remain silent and watch its citizens being slaughtered. The government must do what is necessary to protect life and property. That is the first oath of office of every government: to protect the constitution and preserve the lives and property of its citizens. That is what is needed now.
DOMRADIO.DE: The latest news from Nigeria has been terrible. We heard about the girls' boarding school in Kebbi State. A teacher was killed and 25 schoolgirls were kidnapped. How can this violence be stopped?
Anagbe: This shows that a lot is still happening. Before that incident, they had abducted a brigadier general of the Nigerian Army with four officers and some students and they killed them.
On Sunday, we saw the attack on the Protestant church in Kwara State. People saw it livestreamed. Now the kidnapping of the girls and the murder of the deputy headmaster, presumably because he resisted.
They also kidnapped a priest in the diocese of Kaduna. This morning we received the news that he too had been killed. That is the reality. That is why we are demanding that the government finally do what is necessary to stop this killing.
DOMRADIO.DE: You are here in Germany these days. Tonight you will attend a Mass with the Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Woelki. What are your hopes? What can Christians in Germany and Europe do for their sisters and brothers in Nigeria?
Anagbe: Yesterday, I attended the "Red Wednesday" memorial. Part of this is commemorating the persecuted Church where Christians are suffering and persecution is taking place. It is not only about remembering, but also about praying for these people.
Christians suffer daily, especially in Nigeria, but also in Sudan, Mozambique, and other countries. My request is that Christians continue to raise awareness and advocate for respect for human life and dignity, and that governments take action to end this killing.
Both Christians and Muslims are being killed. But it is not Christians who are killing Muslims. It is the same perpetrators who are also killing liberal Muslims because they do not accept their ideology. Radical fundamentalist Muslims are killing other Muslims.
In Benue State, over 99 percent of the 6.1 million inhabitants are Christians. The Catholic Church alone accounts for about three-quarters of Nigeria's population. We don't have any Fulani living there permanently. The attackers come from outside, kill people and occupy villages. The population now lives in refugee camps in their own country.
The world needs to know what is really happening. I am not speaking from hearsay, but as someone who has witnessed these events myself. As someone who has been affected, together with my people.
I am not expressing an opinion. I experience this every day. The people and many of my priests are severely traumatized. On April 23, 2018, two of my priests were shot dead during morning Mass, along with 17 faithful. The vice president came and many Nigerian bishops attended the funeral Mass. But the crisis continued.
Between 2018 and 2025, I lost about 21 parishes in my diocese. No bishop would be happy and sit idly by while something like this is happening. My people are living in refugee camps and terrorists are occupying their towns and villages. My prayer is that they will be able to return to their homes and live a normal human life again.
DOMRADIO.DE: What gives you hope in such a situation?
Anagbe: It is difficult and challenging. If I told you I wasn't afraid, I wouldn't be telling the truth. But we have a mission. Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane: "Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Humanly speaking, he was full of concern because he had a mission to accomplish.
I also have a mission toward the people entrusted to me by God. These people are being killed every day. I cannot remain silent. They have no voice, but I have the opportunity to speak. Those who have been killed, raped, abandoned cannot speak. If I were to remain silent, it would not be a testimony to the Lord. For a good shepherd does not run away when the flock is attacked. He stays with it.
The interview was conducted by Alexander Foxius.
