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The Bishop of the Makurdi Diocese, Most Rev. Wilfred Anagbe, has warned authorities at all levels of government against adopting resettlement as a lasting solution for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue State.
Speaking at the 2026 Cathedradicum held at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Makurdi, the cleric stressed that displaced persons in the state do not require relocation to new settlements but should instead be assisted to return to their ancestral lands, where they can resume their farming activities.
According to him, “the only durable and sustainable solution the IDPs need is to return them back to their ancestral homes, which he said government at all levels has the capacity to do by providing enough security, especially at the border areas, to ensure the safety of the returnees.”
He explained that nearly all the displaced persons are farmers whose livelihoods depend on access to their farmlands, arguing that relocating them elsewhere would not address their economic realities.
He questioned the practicality of resettlement, noting that such an approach would leave their ancestral communities abandoned and vulnerable to occupation by attackers.
The Bishop also decried what he described as attempts to distort the narrative surrounding the killings in Benue and other parts of the country for personal or political gains.
He recalled facing criticism when he first raised concerns about the attacks but maintained his stance.
Reflecting on his advocacy, he said, “when I started the cry for the killing of our people, I was called names. Some said I am partisan, but because I knew what I was doing, I was not deterred. I thank God that today, everybody has seen the truth.”
He added that his persistent calls were driven by a desire to see peace restored so residents could return to their normal lives.
“All I wanted was for the killings to stop so that Benue people can conveniently go back to their farming activities and cater for their families. That was why I persisted and took this cry to the international community. Thank God we are now on the same page.”
The Bishop further stated that many people now recognize the scale of the violence, saying, “I am glad that everyone in Benue and beyond is now fully aware that the killings in Benue and Nigeria at large are purely Christian genocide, and I want to thank God for hearing my prayers and vindicating me. I want to call on government at all levels to rise to their responsibilities of protecting lives and property and push out these terrorists occupying the ancestral homes of our people.”
He urged Christians to remain steadfast in prayer while upholding values of truth, honesty, and sincerity, emphasizing that truth remains a powerful tool in overcoming challenges.
Earlier, the Dean of the High Level Deanery in the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Peter Paleve, commended Bishop Anagbe for his consistent leadership and advocacy on behalf of affected communities.
Paleve, who also serves as the Chief Medical Director of Bishop Murray Medical Centre in Makurdi, highlighted the Bishop’s humanitarian efforts, stating, “I want to thank the Bishop for sponsoring the surgery of over 250 IDPs with varying diseases ranging from hernia, goitre, among other diseases that were slowly killing IDPs.”
‘Return IDPs to their ancestral homes’ — Benue Bishop tells authorities
