KADUNA, Nigeria – Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, has firmly rejected claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria, stating that such allegations lack factual basis and challenging international efforts to designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern.”
Speaking at the 46th Supreme Convention of the Knights of St. Mulumba in Kaduna, Bishop Kukah questioned the validity of widespread reports about church attacks and religious violence. “They are saying that 1,200 churches are burnt in Nigeria every year, and I ask myself—in which Nigeria?” he stated, noting that accurate data from the Catholic Church was never sought by those making the claims.
The prominent cleric also provided a nuanced definition of genocide, emphasizing that “genocide is not based on the number of people killed” but rather on the intent to eliminate a specific group. He pointed to socioeconomic realities, noting that “up to 85% of the Nigerian economy is controlled by Christians” and that “80% of educated Nigerians are Christians,” questioning how persecution could exist under these circumstances.
Bishop Kukah attributed many challenges facing Christians to internal disunity rather than systematic persecution, urging greater solidarity among Christian communities.
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