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Bishop Anagbe at centre of US–Nigeria row over alleged Christian massacres

Published

11 months ago

November 9, 2025

Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe

Bishop Anagbe at centre of US–Nigeria row over alleged Christian massacres

Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi has emerged as a central figure in a fraught dispute between the United States and Nigeria over allegations of mass killings of Christians in the country’s Middle Belt.

Anagbe told the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa on February 14, 2024, and again on March 12, 2025 — alongside Reverend Father Remigius Ihyula — that communities in Benue State and other parts of the Middle Belt have been subjected to what he described as “genocidal persecution.” The clerics told U.S. lawmakers that suspected jihadists have carried out “systematic massacres, kidnappings, church burnings and land seizures” against primarily Christian farming communities.

According to figures presented by the Catholic Diocese, more than 1,000 Christians were killed in a matter of months and over 160 churches destroyed, with whole villages and farmlands reportedly seized. Anagbe accused Nigerian authorities of a “conspiracy of silence,” alleging the state has turned a blind eye to violence in pursuit of an “Islamic agenda” that, he said, seeks to transform Nigeria into an Islamic state.

The bishops’ testimonies triggered a wave of concern and, according to reports, threats: Anagbe and Father Ihyula allegedly received multiple death threats after their appearances in Washington. Foreign embassies later warned the Bishop he could face arrest if he returned to Nigeria — a claim the Nigerian Foreign Ministry said it would investigate and denied being behind.

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Violence documented in 2025 deepened alarm. Between May 24 and 26, attackers allegedly struck Anagbe’s home village of Aondona, killing dozens (estimates range from at least 42 to more than 70) and displacing hundreds. In early June 2025, coordinated assaults across Gwer West and Apa local government areas near Makurdi — including Yelwata — were reported to have left more than 300 people dead, with many victims reportedly burned alive.

National and civil-society reactions

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) condemned the killings in a statement expressing “deep anguish of soul.” Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, president of the CBCN, described the attacks as “an affront to God” and a “stain on our shared humanity,” adding that the “relentless attacks on innocent and defenceless communities under the watch of civil authorities constitute a grave moral and constitutional failure.”

A study by Intersociety, the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, supported parts of the bishops’ claims, asserting that armed groups and their allies occupy nearly 950 locations across mostly Christian south-eastern states — a situation the group said threatens some 40 per cent of communities in that region.

U.S. response and designation

On October 31, 2025, President Donald Trump designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” in response to the bishops’ and other groups’ allegations of persecution. In a series of statements and a video message in early November, Trump condemned what he called the “killing of Christians” in Nigeria, described the situation as an “existential threat” to Christianity in the country, and warned of severe consequences if Nigerian authorities did not act.

Trump said he had instructed U.S. agencies to prepare for possible military action and warned of potential suspension of aid, insisting the United States “cannot stand by” while such atrocities occur. He called on members of the U.S. Congress, including Representative Riley Moore and House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole, to investigate the claims and report back.

What the church and rights groups say

Church sources, human-rights advocates and the Catholic Diocese have highlighted the scale of killings, kidnappings and property destruction, urging both national and international action to halt what they describe as targeted attacks on Christian communities. They say the trend represents a breakdown of security and a failure of state protection in affected areas.

Government stance

The Nigerian government has consistently rejected allegations that the violence constitutes religious persecution, maintaining that the killings stem from complex factors — banditry, communal disputes and resource conflicts — and that authorities are working to restore security. The Foreign Ministry said it would investigate claims that officials were complicit in any threats or reprisals against clerics who testified abroad.

Bishop Anagbe at centre of US–Nigeria row over alleged Christian massacres

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Lagos Club Robbery: Police Arrest Suspect After N5m Bounty

Published

3 hours ago

September 27, 2026

Trends Admin

Lagos Club Robbery: Police Arrest Suspect After N5m Bounty

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a suspected member of the gang that allegedly robbed clubgoers outside Ghost and Spirits Lounge on Ekoro Road, Abule Egba, Lagos.

The suspect was reportedly identified from video footage of the incident, which showed several people being attacked outside the entertainment venue in the early hours of the morning.

The Lagos club robbery reportedly occurred at about 4am on Saturday after some customers had left the lounge and gathered around their vehicles.

Footage from the scene showed several clubgoers sitting around a vehicle when the suspected robbers approached.

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One of the suspects, reportedly dressed in a green shirt and cap, appeared to move among the people before allegedly targeting one of the victims.

Another member of the group was reportedly seen in an SUV parked across the road before a gunshot was fired, causing some of the people at the scene to run for safety.

The suspect in the green shirt was then allegedly seen taking a wristwatch from one of the victims, while other members of the group reportedly collected valuables before escaping in their vehicle.

Following the incident, the management of the lounge announced a N5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators.

The reward and subsequent investigation helped the police identify and track one of the suspects, who was eventually arrested.

A police source said the suspect was in custody and being interrogated, with investigators seeking information that could lead to the arrest of the other alleged members of the gang.

The Lagos Police Command has also intensified efforts to locate the remaining suspects, who are reportedly still at large.

The incident has raised concerns among residents and nightlife customers in Abule Egba, particularly over the security of people leaving entertainment venues during the early hours.

Police authorities have urged residents with useful information about the suspects or the robbery to assist the investigation.

The arrested suspect remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court, while investigations continue into the alleged robbery and the identities and whereabouts of the other suspects.

Lagos Club Robbery: Police Arrest Suspect After N5m Bounty

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Passenger Dies After Jumping From Moving Bus In Lagos

Published

3 hours ago

September 27, 2026

Trends Admin

Passenger Dies After Jumping From Moving Bus In Lagos

A passenger has died after jumping from a moving commercial bus at Ogunlana Junction, inward Ojuelegba, in the Surulere area of Lagos.

The incident involved a Volkswagen commercial bus with registration number LND 130 XR, which reportedly crashed into a median pole around the Fallout area of Surulere.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said preliminary security reports indicated that the driver was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and had been driving recklessly shortly before the crash.

According to the agency, motorists approaching the bus from behind had to exercise caution to avoid colliding with the vehicle as it reportedly moved erratically.

Amid the incident, a male passenger reportedly jumped from the moving bus, apparently attempting to escape from the uncontrolled vehicle. He sustained serious injuries after hitting the ground and later died from his injuries.

LASTMA officials conducting routine traffic surveillance along the Ojuelegba axis responded to the scene after noticing the crash. They secured the area, managed traffic and removed the damaged bus and the deceased passenger from the carriageway to reduce the risk of a secondary collision.

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Police officers from the Area C Police Division, Ojuelegba, provided security at the scene, while officials of the State Emergency Management Agency evacuated the remains of the deceased.

LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the incident as a reminder of the dangers associated with driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving and operating vehicles that may not be mechanically fit for the road.

Bakare-Oki urged commercial and private motorists to conduct comprehensive checks on their vehicles before every journey, with particular attention to the braking system, tyres, steering mechanism and other critical safety components.

He also commiserated with the family of the deceased and reaffirmed LASTMA‘s commitment to responding promptly to road crashes, managing traffic and clearing accident scenes.

The agency urged motorists and other road users to report accidents, vehicle breakdowns and other traffic obstructions through its toll-free short code, 3367.

Passenger Dies After Jumping From Moving Bus In Lagos

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Kubwa Explosion: Vehicle Crashes Into Gas Outlet, Damages Nine Shops

Published

11 hours ago

September 27, 2026

Trends Admin

Kubwa Explosion: Vehicle Crashes Into Gas Outlet, Damages Nine Shops

Panic broke out in Kubwa, Abuja, on Sunday morning after a gas explosion rocked the Liberty Junction area, following a vehicle crash into a roadside gas retail outlet.

The incident occurred at about 6:15 a.m., sending a powerful blast through the area and causing nearby buildings to shake, while thick smoke and flames rose from the affected facility.

The vehicle reportedly veered off the road and crashed into the gas outlet, triggering the explosion and subsequent fire.

The impact affected several businesses around the junction, with reports indicating that nine shops were damaged or destroyed by the ensuing fire.

A nearby police traffic post was also reportedly uprooted by the force of the explosion, while other structures and sections of the surrounding area were damaged.

The vehicle involved in the crash was badly burnt in the incident. Emergency responders, however, reportedly rescued the driver and a child from the wreckage.

The injured driver was taken to a medical facility for treatment, while emergency personnel worked to prevent the fire from spreading to other shops and properties in the densely populated area.

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The explosion triggered panic among residents and commuters, with people reportedly rushing away from the scene as the fire continued to burn.

Emergency response agencies, including the Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Police Force, were deployed to the scene.

Firefighters battled the flames for hours before the situation was brought under control.

The incident also caused significant traffic disruption around Liberty Junction and the Kubwa axis, as motorists slowed down and emergency responders worked at the scene.

Security personnel subsequently moved people away from the immediate area and helped manage traffic while the damaged vehicle and other debris were cleared.

Initial reports did not indicate a confirmed death from the explosion, although the driver was reported to have sustained injuries.

Authorities had yet to provide a detailed official account explaining why the vehicle veered off the road or confirming the full extent of the damage and injuries as of the time of reporting.

The incident has again drawn attention to safety concerns surrounding gas outlets located close to busy roads, shops and residential areas, particularly in densely populated parts of the Federal Capital Territory.

Further assessment by relevant authorities is expected to establish the precise circumstances of the crash, the extent of the property damage and whether any safety breaches contributed to the incident.