The ecclesiastical territory which is today called Makurdi Diocese was part of the newly formed Prefecture Apostolic of the lower Niger between 1889 and 1920. The Prefecture covered the entire land area within the east of the River Niger and to the South of River Benue. In 1920, its status within the Catholic Church was raised to that of Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Nigeria though maintaining its boundaries. The missionary priests who first evangelized in this area were French Holy Ghost Fathers in 1880. They were joined by Holy Ghost Priests and brothers from Ireland, and it was the latter who from 1911 began to make contact with the Benue in the Northern part of the Vicariate. Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, C.M.F. was appointed in 2024 as the Bishop of the diocese. Diocese has a total population of 978,188 people, with 53 indigenous priests and 5 deacons. The diocese also has several institutions, including schools, health institutions, and organizations.