I never denied Christian persecution in Nigeria, Kukah clarifies

 

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has dismissed reports suggesting that he claimed there was no persecution of Christians in Nigeria, describing such accounts as a misrepresentation of his remarks.

Kukah spoke on Sunday during his appearance on Boiling Point, a current affairs programme aired on radio stations, where he addressed the lingering controversy surrounding claims of a Christian genocide in the country.

Reacting to reports attributed to him, the cleric said at no point did he deny the killing or persecution of Christians, stressing that his comments were taken out of context.

“I never denied the killing of our people,” Kukah said. “It came as a shock to me that some Christians went around saying that I claimed there is no persecution of Christians in Nigeria. That was never my position.”

According to him, while debates may arise over the terminology — whether the situation should be described as persecution or genocide — the reality remains that innocent lives have been lost and such killings ought not to have occurred.

“Whether it is persecution or genocide, by God, these things should never have happened in the first place,” he added. “Wherever help can come from, whether from Trump or anywhere else, these killings should not have happened at all.”

Kukah’s clarification follows Nigeria’s recent redesignation by the United States as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged violations of religious freedom. The CPC status is applied by the US government to countries accused of “systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom.”

Former US President Donald Trump had, on October 31, announced the redesignation, citing claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria. In November, Trump further stirred controversy when he threatened to intervene militarily, saying the US would go into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” to stop the killing of Christians.

On December 25, the United States reportedly carried out air strikes on two terrorist enclaves in Bauni forest, Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The Nigerian government has consistently rejected allegations of genocide against Christians, insisting that insecurity affects citizens across religious and ethnic lines.

Reinforcing this position, Kukah said the security crisis in the country does not discriminate between Christians and Muslims.

“In my central argument about insecurity in Nigeria, it does not matter whether you are a Muslim or a Christian; you are vulnerable,” he said. “People are being abducted and killed across the country, regardless of faith.”

The bishop recalled that in October he had cautioned the US government against redesignating Nigeria as a CPC, arguing that Nigerians generally feel exposed and unprotected, irrespective of religion, ethnicity or social status.

“Our people feel vulnerable across board,” Kukah said. “The challenge of insecurity is a national tragedy that demands collective and sincere solutions.”