Bishop Kukah Clarifies Stance on Christian Persecution in Nigeria, Apologizes for "Misinterpretation"

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has issued a formal statement expressing regret that his recent comments on the security crisis in Nigeria have been misinterpreted as a denial of the persecution faced by Christians.

In the statement released by the Diocese of Sokoto on Tuesday, December 9, Bishop Kukah said he is "sincerely sorry" for the pain caused and dismissed allegations that he claimed there is no persecution. "Nothing could be further from the truth," he asserted.

Source of the Controversy

The bishop's clarification follows weeks of criticism stemming from two public addresses. In an October speech in Rome, while acknowledging widespread violence, he argued that extremist groups now kill both Christians and Muslims, stating, "We are not dealing with people going around wielding machetes and looking for me in order to kill me because I am a Christian."

This viewpoint was challenged by other church figures, including Fr. Stan Chu Ilo, who felt it missed the **"deep anguish"** of believers living in fear. The controversy deepened in late November when, at a Knights of St. Mulumba convention, Kukah questioned the use of the term "genocide" and challenged specific statistics, such as the claim that "1,200 churches are burned every year in Nigeria."

Kukah's Clarified Position

In his December 9 statement, Bishop Kukah sought to set the record straight:

*   He affirmed he never denied the persecution of Christians.

*   He explained his November address focused on the "challenges of bearing witness to Christ in a time of persecution" and argued that greater unity among Christians would strengthen their position.

*   He emphasized that regardless of definitions, "the bloodshed needs to end" and placed ultimate responsibility on the government and security agencies to apprehend perpetrators.

"I am deeply sorry for the unnecessary distraction," Kukah concluded, urging focus on the broader "contest we must win" for security and peace in Nigeria.

The episode highlights the intense and complex debate within Nigerian Christianity on how to characterize and respond to the ongoing violence affecting faith communities across the nation.