By Tony Onyima, Ph.D.
The Catholic Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, has urged members of the Order of the Knights of Saint Mulumba (KSM) to speak out boldly against the persecution of Christians and rising injustice in Nigeria.
Anagbe gave the charge on Friday in Abuja while delivering a keynote lecture at a grand reception organised by the Abuja Metropolitan Council of the Knights of St. Mulumba Nigeria in honour of the newly elected Supreme Knight, Sir Steve Adehi, SAN.
Speaking on the theme, “Empowering Faith, Securing a Nation: Unleashing a Vibrant KSM Under a Transformative Leadership,” the bishop called on the Catholic lay apostolate to rediscover its founding mission and become a stronger moral voice within the Church and Nigerian society.
He reminded the gathering that the Knights of St. Mulumba was founded in Onitsha on June 14, 1953, by Rev. Fr. Abraham Ojefua, to mobilise committed Catholic men to defend the faith, support the clergy and promote charity and social justice.
The bishop noted that the Order, inspired by the witness of St. Matiya Mulumba, one of the Ugandan martyrs who died defending his faith, has played a significant role in strengthening the Catholic Church in Nigeria.
However, he warned that the nation’s current challenges require the Knights to become more vocal and proactive in defending the Christian faith.
“The Knights of St. Mulumba cannot afford to look the other way while injustice prevails and the faith of persecuted Christians is weakened,” Anagbe said.
He stressed that silence in the face of injustice amounts to betrayal of the Christian mission, urging the Knights to support bishops and priests who speak out against marginalisation and persecution.
While acknowledging that security operations remain the responsibility of the government, the bishop encouraged the order to engage in non-violent advocacy, including civic engagement, legal action and peaceful protests aimed at demanding justice and protection for victims of religious violence.
According to him, the organisation should leverage its members’ professional expertise and influence to champion legal and social initiatives that protect the rights of persecuted communities.
Anagbe also emphasised the need for transformational leadership within the order, warning that the Knights must not allow partisan politics to undermine their mission.
“No leader in the name of transformation should turn the Knights of St. Mulumba into a platform for promoting political parties or political figures,” he cautioned.
Instead, he said the Order must cultivate leadership built on integrity, faith, innovation and mentorship capable of inspiring members and strengthening the Church.
The bishop further expressed concern over Nigeria’s worsening socio-economic conditions, describing the country as facing a profound moral and security crisis.
“Our nation is at a crisis of morality and spirituality,” he said, noting that insecurity, poverty and political divisions have deepened the hardship faced by many Nigerians.
He lamented that attacks on Christian communities and places of worship have continued in several parts of the country, warning that the situation demands a stronger response from the faithful.
Anagbe urged the Knights to renew their spiritual commitment through prayer, integrity, and service, while remaining faithful to the Order’s founding vision.
“The knighthood in Nigeria has been too quiet for too long. The time to break our circle of silence is now,” he declared.
The reception attracted Knights and Ladies of St. Mulumba from across the country, as well as Catholic clergy and lay faithful who gathered to celebrate the emergence of Adehi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as the new Supreme Knight of the Order.
The Knights of St. Mulumba Nigeria is widely regarded as the foremost Catholic lay organisation in the country, playing a key role in charity, evangelisation and the defence of Catholic doctrine.
