We want to know the pact between the Government and herdsmen- Catholic Group

Our correspondent

A group operating under the Makurdi Catholic Diocesan Laity Council (MCDLC) has expressed its concern regarding the relationship between the government and herdsmen, which they believe has allowed these individuals to act with impunity—carrying arms, committing acts of violence, pillaging, and occupying their lands.

They are particularly questioning why Bishop Anagbe appears to be “singled out for intimidation” while the terrorists, who are attacking their communities, continue to roam freely.

The group’s demands were outlined in a press statement titled “Call for the Urgent Need to Protect Most Rev. Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, CMF, and Rev. Fr. Remigius Ihyula from Threats and Intimidation Following the Bishop’s Testimonies in the US and UK Concerning the Deplorable Plight of Christians and Indigenous Crop-Farming Communities of Nigeria.”

The statement signed by the council’s president, Sir Andrew Njie, and secretary, Samuel Azor Kunde, the MCDLC said, “We demand that these invaders be driven from our land. This is not a personal vendetta but a battle for the survival and freedom of our people.”

The group stated that for too long, the local population has suffered under what they termed “the terror of Fulani killers and bandits,” alleging that the government has enabled this situation through inaction.

They described how intruders are pillaging their lands, destroying their livelihoods with their cattle, and burning their churches.

Expressing solidarity with Most Rev. Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, CMF, and Rev. Fr. Remigius Ihyula, the group stated, “We, the Makurdi Catholic Diocesan Laity Council, rise with righteous indignation and unyielding resolve to address the alarming threats against the life and liberty of our esteemed shepherd, Most Rev. Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, CMF, Catholic Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, and his faithful priest, Rev. Fr. Remigius Ihyula.

“These disturbing rumours have surfaced following the bishop’s bold proclamations condemning the ongoing slaughter, violence, and displacement faced by the innocent and defenseless residents of Benue State and Nigeria as a whole. The Bishop’s actions align with the demands of his faith, which compels him to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves… defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:8-9).

“Bishop Anagbe stands as a formidable advocate for justice, an unwavering defender of peace, and a staunch guardian of the sacred dignity of every human life. With the authority of a prophet, he has courageously shed light on the atrocities inflicted upon the defenseless, particularly in the Middle Belt, where blood is shed, homes are turned to ashes, and ancestral lands are seized by marauding herdsmen and ruthless militias.

“His voice is more than a mere cry for help; it is a thunderous call to awaken the conscience of a nation, demanding accountability for the suffering of the downtrodden and displaced. This echoes the Gospel mandate: to protect the weak, speak for the voiceless, and confront evil without compromise. “Bishop Wilfred’s words and actions resonate with the voice of the prophet Isaiah, who admonishes us: ‘Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow’ (Isaiah 1:17).”

Please follow and like us:

20