Shari’ah Council Criticizes Bishop for Alleged Misinformation on Islamization

Shari’ah Council Criticizes Bishop for Alleged Misinformation on Islamization

The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) and the Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) have strongly condemned Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Benue State, for allegedly spreading falsehoods about Islamization and the killing of Christians in Nigeria. In separate statements, SCSN Secretary-General, Dr. Nafiu Baba-Ahmad, and MPAC Executive Chairman, Disu Kamor, called on the federal government to investigate and take appropriate action against the bishop for allegedly inciting religious tensions……….READ MORE

Bishop Anagbe had appeared before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Africa Subcommittee on March 12, 2025, where he reportedly claimed that Christians in Benue and other parts of Nigeria were being targeted and that schools in 12 northern states had been shut down during Ramadan as part of an alleged Islamization agenda.

Dr. Baba-Ahmad denounced these claims, describing them as baseless and inflammatory. He specifically refuted the bishop’s assertion that “2% of Fulani Islamists have taken over lands occupied by 98% Christians,” stating that such remarks were misleading and irresponsible.

He further argued that Anagbe’s testimony falsely suggested government complicity, which would implicate the Governor of Benue State—himself a Catholic priest—as part of the alleged conspiracy. He described these allegations as reckless and aimed at inciting religious discord.

“The bishop’s contradictions and malicious intent are evident. His claims seem deliberately crafted to foster distrust and fuel religious tensions. SCSN remains committed to countering misinformation from those who seek to sow division under the guise of religious leadership,” Dr. Baba-Ahmad stated.

He emphasized that religious intolerance should not be given room to flourish, noting that global organizations such as the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), the Global Terrorism Index, and even Christian groups like the East-West Christian Association provide a more accurate picture of Nigeria’s security crisis.

According to him, insecurity in Nigeria is driven by a complex interplay of insurgency, banditry, and ethnic conflicts, affecting both Muslims and Christians alike. He called on the Christian community in Nigeria to distance itself from what he described as “dangerous and misleading rhetoric.”

MPAC Chairman, Disu Kamor, also criticized the bishop’s testimony, stating that his allegations were unsubstantiated. He questioned the logic of Anagbe’s claim that a minority group, allegedly constituting only 2% of Benue’s population, could pose an existential threat to the Christian-majority state, which controls its own security and resources.

Kamor urged religious leaders to promote peace rather than division, warning that silence in the face of misinformation could embolden those who seek to destabilize the country.

Both organizations reiterated their commitment to fostering national unity and called on the government to take action against individuals who spread falsehoods capable of inciting conflict.