Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese and Convener of the National Peace Committee, Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, has restated that Nigeria is not experiencing a Christian genocide.
Speaking at the 46th Supreme Convention of the Knights of St. Mulumba in Kaduna, Bishop Kukah said figures circulated about alleged killings of Christians do not meet the definition of genocide and are not supported by verified data.
He said his position aligns with that of the Vatican Secretary of State, the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, and Catholic bishops across the country.
Kukah questioned claims that thousands of churches are burnt annually.
“They are saying that 1,200 churches are burnt in Nigeria every year, and I ask myself, in which Nigeria? Interestingly, nobody approached the Catholic Church to get accurate data. We do not know where these figures came from.
“All those talking about persecution, has anyone ever called to ask, ‘Bishop Kukah, what is the situation?’ The data being circulated cleverly avoids the Catholic Church because they know Catholics do not indulge in hearsay,” he said.
Matthew Kukah said genocide is defined by intent rather than casualty figures.
“Genocide is not based on the number of people killed. You can kill 10 million people and it still won’t amount to genocide. The critical determinant is intent, whether the aim is to eliminate a group of people. So, you don’t determine genocide by numbers; you determine it by intention,” he said.
He also challenged claims that Christians are being systematically targeted in Nigeria.
“If you are a Christian in Nigeria and you say you are persecuted, my question is: how? At least 80% of educated Nigerians are Christians, and up to 85% of the Nigerian economy is controlled by Christians. With such figures, how can anyone say Christians are being persecuted?”
Kukah said issues raised within Christian communities stem from internal divisions.
“The main problem is that Christians succumb to bullies. The day we decide to stand together, believing that an injury to one is an injury to all, these things will stop,” he said.
He also warned against describing victims of violence as martyrs without context.
“Because someone is killed in a church, does that automatically make them a martyr? Whether you are killed while stealing someone’s yam or attacked by bandits, does that qualify as martyrdom? I am worried because we must think more deeply,” he said.
Responding to reactions to reports quoting him as opposing the international designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” Kukah said such labels could heighten tension and create openings for criminal groups to exploit divisions.
He said his views are based on research and referenced a 1,270-page study on genocide in Nigeria and elsewhere, which he presented at the Vatican.
“My argument is that it is not accurate to claim there is genocide or martyrdom in Nigeria,” he said.
