“I’ve never denied Christian persecution in Nigeria” Bishop KUKAH

Monday, January 12, 2026 - Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has dismissed claims that he denied the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, insisting his remarks had been mischaracterized and taken out of context.

Speaking on Sunday during the radio programme Boiling Point, Bishop Kukah said he was shocked by reports suggesting he claimed there was no persecution or genocide against Christians in the country.

“I don’t want to go into the details of the mischaracterisation of what I said, but 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 said.

Kukah explained that the controversy arose from differences in language in global reports and local discussions about violence against Christians. He recalled presenting a lecture in Rome during the launch of a global report on Christian persecution.

“I raised the issue, and I said, look, we may be victims of language. Whether it’s persecution, whether it’s genocide, by God, this thing ought not to have happened,” he said.

The bishop challenged critics to identify anyone in Nigeria who had addressed the issue as extensively as he has. “Wherever we can get help from, Trump, whatever, these killings ought not to have happened in the first place,” he added.

While acknowledging that Christians face attacks, Kukah stressed that insecurity affects all Nigerians regardless of religion or ethnicity.

“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 Nigerians not to limit compassion to their own groups: “The day our grief or our concern is only for ourselves, that day we cease to be Christians.”

Calling for urgent national reflection and reform, Kukah said Nigeria must be fixed quickly. He argued that many of the country’s challenges stem from citizens’ indiscipline, irresponsibility, and failure to hold leaders accountable, warning that expecting a “saviour” from government is misplaced.

“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 citizens often mirror the failings they condemn in politicians. Corruption, opportunism, and disregard for due process, he noted, are pervasive among Nigerians themselves.

“Many are running private businesses; ask our workers how fair and equitable we are. The elite should not pretend that some saviour will come from somewhere. It is a result of our collective irresponsibility,” he said.

Kukah highlighted voter apathy, lack of civic engagement, and absence of a protest culture as major obstacles to reform.

“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,” he said.

He stressed that discipline and adherence to faith-based and civic principles are crucial for national transformation.

“The day we decide to live by the dictates of our faith, this country will be completely different. We will have a new Nigeria the day we decide to be sufficiently disciplined.”

Contrasting Nigeria with other African nations, Kukah praised the late Tanzanian leader Julius Nyerere for fostering dignity and self-worth. “Ask at Niger; people who are poorer than Nigerians have a sense of dignity,” he said.

Assessing the President Bola Tinubu administration, Kukah expressed concern over persistent banditry and insecurity.

“Our inability to rid ourselves of banditry and insecurity must be taken seriously. We need timelines to address this issue,” he said.

He also called for urgent measures to address hunger, human survival, internally displaced persons, and gaps in foreign policy.

“The security agencies must ensure restoration of social order. There should be new, aggressive plans to end IDP camps. Also, our foreign policy remains in a state of flux. With all the trips the president has made, no ambassador has been appointed,” he said.