Kukah says no christian persecution in Nigeria, warns against misusing genocide claims
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese and Convener of the National Peace Committee (NPC), Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, has dismissed claims that Christians are being persecuted in Nigeria, insisting that allegations of genocide and mass church attacks are exaggerated and unsupported by credible data.
Speaking at the 46th Supreme Convention of the Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM) in Kaduna, Kukah said recent figures circulating about alleged Christian killings and the burning of “1,200 churches annually” do not reflect reality. He said no organisation, including those citing the figures, consulted the Catholic Church for verification.
Kukah, who recently faced criticism after reportedly advising the international community not to designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” argued that such classifications would heighten tension, encourage suspicion, and embolden criminals, undermining interfaith dialogue.
He aligned himself with the Vatican Secretary of State and the leadership of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, stating that the Church has consistently rejected inaccurate narratives used to inflame religious sentiments.
Clarifying widespread claims of genocide, Kukah stressed that the term is defined by intent, not casualty figures. “You can kill 10 million people and it still won’t amount to genocide if the intention is not to eliminate a group,” he said, warning against careless use of sensitive terminology.
The bishop also challenged assertions of Christian persecution, noting that Christians occupy a significant share of Nigeria’s educated population and economic power. “With such figures, how can anyone say Christians are being persecuted?” he asked.
According to him, many challenges confronting Christians stem from internal disunity rather than external oppression. “The main problem is that Christians succumb to bullies. The day we decide to stand together, these things will stop,” he said.
Kukah further cautioned against loosely attributing martyrdom to every church-related death, arguing that the circumstances of killings must be examined carefully.
He clarified that his earlier presentations at the Vatican were based on a 1,270-page study on genocide, and that it is inaccurate to describe Nigeria’s situation as genocide or widespread martyrdom.
Kukah urged members of the Knights of St. Mulumba to defend the Church through integrity and exemplary conduct, saying modern defence of faith is rooted in character, not confrontation.
