Nigeria: More than 15 Catholic parishes shut down due to ongoing jihadist violence targeting Christians

Image: Jihad Watch

Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe of the Diocese of Makurdi in Nigeria has called for urgent action to address the worsening insecurity in Benue State, which has forced the closure of over 15 parishes within his diocese.

Speaking to ACI Africa, CNA’s African news partner, during the seventh International Theological Conference organized by the Institute of Consecrated Life in Africa, Anagbe urged the Nigerian government to prioritize security to restore hope and facilitate the return of displaced people to their ancestral homes.

“Benue State has become the epicenter of the crisis. In my Diocese of Makurdi, we’ve had to close around 14 to 15 parishes,” he said. 

“By parishes, I mean some with up to 20 outstations, others with 15. Each parish covers an area of about 20 to 25 kilometers. The population of the state and the diocese is dwindling,” the bishop added.

Anagbe noted that this wave of parish closures due to insecurity extends to the Otukpo and Katsina-Ala Dioceses, both located in conflict-prone regions of Nigeria.

He expressed alarm over the frequent reports of killings and kidnappings, underscoring the government’s obligation to safeguard its citizens.

“Every day, we hear of new incidents of killings and abductions. It is not up to the people to defend themselves; the responsibility to protect lives and property lies squarely with the government,” the bishop said.

Anagbe criticized what he sees as a lack of decisive action from the authorities, pointing out that Nigeria’s peacekeeping successes in countries like Sierra Leone and Liberia prove that the government is capable of resolving the domestic crisis if it chooses to.

“These bandits cannot be beyond the capacity of the Nigerian army or police,” he argued.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)