Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has rejected suggestions that he dismissed the reality of Christian persecution in Nigeria, stressing that his comments were misrepresented and taken out of context.
Speaking on the radio programme Boiling Point on Sunday, Kukah said he was surprised by reports claiming he denied the existence of persecution or genocide against Christians. “It shocked me that Christians were going around saying that I said there is no persecution of Christians in Nigeria. The only clarification I can give is that I’ve never denied that there is persecution of Christians in Nigeria,” he explained.
He noted that the misunderstanding stemmed from differences in language used in global reports compared to local discussions. Recalling a lecture he delivered in Rome, Kukah said: “We may be victims of language. Whether it’s persecution, whether it’s genocide, by God, this thing ought not to have happened.”
The bishop emphasised that insecurity affects all Nigerians, regardless of religion. “In my central argument about security in Nigeria, it doesn’t matter where you are, whether you are Muslim, whether you are Christian, you are in danger of being abducted,” he said. He urged Christians to show compassion beyond their own community: “The day our grief or our concern is only for ourselves, that day we cease to be Christians.”
Kukah also called for urgent reforms, arguing that Nigeria’s problems are rooted in indiscipline, irresponsibility, and citizens’ failure to hold leaders accountable. “We have been a troubled country, but a country of great promise. Terrible mistakes have been made; we ought not to be where we are,” he said, adding that corruption and disregard for due process are widespread among both politicians and ordinary citizens.
He criticised voter apathy and the lack of civic engagement, warning: “If you don’t care about government, the government will not care about you. People are dying, but people are partying. We must learn a culture of protest and the sacrifice that comes with it, not lamentation.”
Highlighting the need for discipline and adherence to faith-based principles, Kukah said: “The day we decide to live by the dictates of our faith, this country will be completely different.” He praised the late Tanzanian leader Julius Nyerere for instilling dignity and self-worth in his people, contrasting this with Nigeria’s struggles.