By Rasheed Abubakar and Akeem Alao Babatunde
A mendacious narrative before the United States Congress by a Nigerian Catholic priest, Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Benue State, has been faulted by leading Muslim bodies in the country.
Their condemnation is coming barely days after the federal government countered the narrative that Christians were being targeted for killing in parts of Nigeria.
They condemned in strong terms Bishop Anagbe’s testimony before the U.S. Congress on 12th March, 2025, describing it as misleading and dangerous lies capable of inciting division among Nigerians.
Muslim News gathered that the US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa authorised President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on Nigeria due to the Bishop’s report alleging widespread killing of Christians and escalating religious violence within the country.
It’s aimed to influence US, others to designate Nigeria: Minister
But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, denied the allegation, saying that it’s the work of fifth columnists who want Nigeria to be designated a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by the international community.
According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, “Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation, and the government remains committed to protecting the lives and properties of all citizens, irrespective of faith, ethnicity, or gender.
“The security issues in Nigeria are complex and multifaceted, and manifest as criminality, terrorism and communal clashes – including farmer/herder confrontation, that do not have any religious connotation.”
The statement added that: “The government of Nigeria, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has taken significant steps to address these security concerns, including the deployment of security forces, intelligence gathering and community engagement initiatives.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs therefore expressed strong concerns over the recent wave of misinformation and misleading reports regarding the supposed targeted killings of Christians in Nigeria. It noted that the unfortunate development was intended to influence foreign governments, especially the United States Government, to designate Nigeria a CPC.
It added: “While the federal government acknowledges the security challenges confronting the nation, it is imperative to clarify that these negative activities are not driven by religious bias, nor targeted against any particular religious group.
“It should be noted that the majority of incidents relating to insurgency and banditry that occur in the predominantly Muslim northern part of Nigeria are not targeted at followers of a particular faith or religion. Any narrative that seeks to give such incidents a coloration of religious persecution is erroneous and misleading.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the international community to exercise caution and verify information before drawing conclusions or making statements that could exacerbate tensions within Nigeria.
“We call on all stakeholders, including the media, civil society organisations and foreign partners, to refrain from spreading unverified claims that could undermine national unity and stability”, he added.
Orchestrated to incite divisions among Nigerians – Islamic council
Similarly, the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Nafiu Baba-Ahmad denounced his claims as misleading and inflammatory.
According to the statement, the priest alleged that “2% of Fulani (Islamists) have taken over lands occupied by 98% Christians” and insinuated that the Nigerian government is complicit in the crisis.
The council described these statements as false and dangerous, warning that they could incite religious tensions and misrepresent the true nature of Nigeria’s security challenges.
The Secretary General also criticized the testimony, arguing that it unfairly portrays the Nigerian government as supporting religious persecution.
He pointed out that the claim effectively suggests that the current Governor of Benue State, himself a Catholic priest, is part of the alleged conspiracy.
“Such reckless and unfounded accusations undermine national security efforts and foster distrust among Nigerians. The bishop’s contradictory claims appear to be deliberately aimed at inciting division,” Baba-Ahmad stated.
The council cited multiple credible reports, including those from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), the Global Terrorism Index, and Christian organisations like the East-West Christian Association, which indicate that Nigeria’s insecurity is driven by a mix of insurgency, banditry, ethnic conflicts, and organized crime.
“These reports challenge the notion that Christians are being exclusively targeted, instead highlighting that both Muslim and Christian communities suffer from the ongoing violence.
“The world is now wiser, and falsehood can no longer thrive unchallenged. The security crisis in Nigeria is not a religious war but a broader conflict involving multiple factors, including economic disparities and organized crime,” Baba-Ahmad emphasized.
The council urged the Nigerian Christian community to distance itself from inflammatory rhetoric and actively counter such misinformation.
“Religious leaders must promote peace, not division. Silence in the face of blatant misinformation emboldens those who seek to destabilize our nation,” Baba-Ahmad said.
Additionally, the council called on the Nigerian government to investigate the bishop for his remarks, arguing that his statements pose a direct threat to national security. They likened his rhetoric to that of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who has been accused of using propaganda to incite unrest.
The statement also referenced a previous incident in Abuja, where a Christian pastor appeared on the pulpit wielding an AK-47 while making provocative remarks. The council warned that similar unchecked incitements could fuel violence and deepen religious divides.
While the Nigerian government has dismissed the recent U.S. Congress report as misleading and politically motivated, officials have reiterated that the violence in the country is rooted in insurgency and criminal activities, rather than religious persecution. However, the council urged the government to go beyond condemnations and implement decisive strategies to address insecurity and foster unity among Nigerians.
Muslims, principal victims of security crisis: MPAC
Similarly, the Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) criticized the bishop’s claim that Christians in Benue State, a predominantly Christian region governed by a Catholic priest, face an existential threat from a supposed Islamist agenda, stating that such assertions defy logic.
In a statement signed by its Executive Chairman, Disu Kamor, the group challenged the bishop’s allegations of a long-term plot to Islamize Nigeria, calling them Islamophobic and lacking credible evidence.
MPAC accused the bishop of attempting to manipulate international opinion to justify foreign intervention against Nigeria, referencing similar past efforts by Christian leaders to push an anti-Muslim narrative on global platforms.
According to MPAC, multiple reports, including those from the U.S. Department of State, indicate that Nigerian Muslims have been the greatest victims of terrorism, including Boko Haram attacks.
“There are also numerous newspaper reports of Christian terrorist groups, sometimes dressed in Muslim attires, caught planting explosives in churches or attacking Christian populated areas.
“According to various reports, the majority of those affected by terrorism are Muslims. Other reports suggest that both Christians and Muslims have been affected by violence and terrorism.
“For instance, according to the US Department of State’s 2022 International Religious Freedom Report, Boko Haram’s violence has affected both Muslims and Christians, resulting in numerous deaths.”
The organisation emphasised that insecurity in Nigeria is a multifaceted crisis driven by economic, political, and ethnic factors, not a targeted religious campaign against Christians.
MPAC urged religious leaders to focus on fostering peace and interfaith dialogue rather than spreading inflammatory rhetoric. The organisation also called on the Nigerian government to take decisive action against individuals who spread misinformation capable of threatening national unity.
“We urge Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe to retract his unsubstantiated claims and to join well-meaning Nigerians of all faiths in building sustainable peace, national reconciliation, interfaith cooperation and understanding.
“His testimony is a prime example of how misinformation and biases can be used to fuel divisions, perpetuate harmful stereotypes, and aid the cause of the terrorists. It is essential to approach such claims with critical eye and demand evidence-based narratives that promote understanding and reconciliation,” he added.
Sponsored
