The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese and Convener of the National Peace Committee (NPC), Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has insisted that claims of widespread persecution of Christians in Nigeria are not supported by verified data.
Speaking while presenting a paper at the 46th Supreme Convention of the Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM) in Kaduna, Bishop Kukah said recent allegations suggesting that Christians are being systematically targeted in Nigeria were exaggerated and not rooted in facts.
He clarified that genocide is defined not by the number of casualties but by the intent to eliminate an entire group, stressing that many public claims misuse the term.
“Genocide is not based on numbers. You can kill 10 million people and it still won’t amount to genocide. What determines genocide is intent,” he said.
Kukah, who recently faced criticism after opposing moves to classify Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” said such a designation would worsen national tensions, fuel suspicion, and embolden criminals.
‘Where Are the Figures Coming From?’
Reacting to claims that 1,200 churches are burnt yearly in Nigeria, Kukah said no one had approached the Catholic Church—Nigeria’s largest Christian bloc—for any official data.
“They are saying 1,200 churches are burnt in Nigeria every year, and I ask myself—in which Nigeria? Nobody approached the Catholic Church for accurate data. Those spreading these figures know Catholics don’t deal in hearsay.”
He noted that he aligns with the position of the Vatican Secretary of State and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, both of whom have also dismissed claims of genocide.
‘How Are Christians Persecuted?’
The bishop also questioned the narrative that Christians are systematically oppressed in Nigeria.
“If you say Christians are persecuted, how? At least 80% of educated Nigerians are Christians, and over 85% of the economy is controlled by Christians. With such figures, how can anyone say Christians are being persecuted?”
He argued that internal disunity is a bigger challenge for Christians than external threats.
“Christians succumb to bullies. The day we decide that an injury to one is an injury to all, these things will stop.”
On Claims of Martyrdom
Kukah also faulted loose interpretations of martyrdom in public discussions.
“Because someone is killed in a church, does that automatically make them a martyr? Whether you are killed stealing someone’s yam or attacked by bandits—does that make you a martyr? We need deeper thinking.”
Call to Exemplary Conduct
He urged members of the Knights of St. Mulumba to defend the Church through upright living and moral leadership.
“We are no longer talking about wielding swords, but about living as true witnesses.”
