The Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately declare a state of emergency in Benue State following recent deadly attacks that claimed at least 43 lives.
The victims were killed when gunmen attacked communities in Gwer West and Apa Local Government Areas of the state days ago, prompting urgent calls for federal intervention.
Bishops Stand With Threatened Colleague
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, CBCN President-General Leonard Kawas expressed solidarity with the Catholic Bishop of Makurdi diocese, Wilfred Anagbe, who has reportedly received threats for his vocal stance against the killings in Benue.
"We stand with Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe in his courageous stance against the atrocities committed against our people. As shepherds of the flock, it is our duty to speak out against injustice and defend the dignity of human life," Kawas stated.
The bishops expressed concern about Nigeria's deteriorating security situation, questioning how a country once known for its peacekeeping prowess across West Africa now struggles to protect its own citizens.
"The recent spate of insecurity in our nation is so worrisome that one would wonder if this is not the same Nigeria that silenced the dreaded Liberian rebels and sent peacekeepers all over West Africa who were exceptional in carrying out their duties and earned accolades wherever they were assigned," the bishops lamented.
International Attention on Benue Crisis
BenriNews reports that Bishop Anagbe and Reverend Father Remigius Ihyula had previously testified before the United States House Foreign Affairs Committee on March 12 regarding militants killing and forcibly displacing Christian farmers in Benue State.
Their testimony brought international attention to the ongoing security crisis in the region, which has seen repeated attacks on farming communities.
The CBCN's call for a state of emergency comes amid growing concerns about the federal government's response to the security challenges in Benue State, which has experienced persistent violence attributed to herder-farmer conflicts over several years.
