FLASHBACK: ‘Genocide Is Happening in Nigeria’ — How Bishop Kukah’s 2020 Warning Resurfaces Amid Fresh Denials

A resurfaced statement made by Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah in 2020, where he described persistent attacks on Christians in Nigeria as “genocidal”, has reignited debate about religious violence in the country, especially in light of his recent comments dismissing claims of Christian persecution.

 

The contradiction has triggered widespread public scrutiny, with many Nigerians questioning what has changed between his position four years ago and now.

 

Old Comments Resurface

 

The online circulation of a 2020 interview Bishop Kukah granted to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has re-opened unresolved discussions about insecurity and religiously-motivated attacks in Nigeria.

 

In the 2020 interview, granted shortly after Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) executed five aid workers — three reportedly Christians — Bishop Kukah minced no words in describing the situation as a form of genocide.

 

Asked directly whether attacks by Fulani herdsmen and extremist groups could be classified as genocide under international law, he replied: “I believe so.”

 

He stated that systematic violence against Christian communities, particularly in the Middle Belt and other parts of the North, met the threshold of genocidal intent.

 

But he also stressed that Muslims were victims as well — “These killings are not to be narrowed down to Christians because they have been far worse in the predominantly Muslim north, in such states as Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara,” he said at the time.

 

His 2020 Position: ‘Nigeria Is a Failed State’

 

The 2020 interview presented one of Bishop Kukah’s strongest condemnations of the Nigerian government’s handling of insecurity.

 

He described Nigeria as “a largely failed state,” pointing to years of insecurity marked by mass kidnappings, extremist insurgency, banditry, and rampant attacks on villages.

 

According to him, terrorism in Nigeria had become self-sustaining, financed through kidnappings, ransom payments, and other forms of criminality.

 

He further suggested that government negligence — and in some cases complicity — worsened the situation:

 

“It is feared that government may be funding these groups inadvertently, largely because they have penetrated the security agencies,” he said.

 

“Governments have also paid huge sums of money for ransom… The inefficiency of the military has made terrorists bolder.”

 

Bishop Kukah also criticized Western powers for what he called empty promises. “We hear promises from the United States and Europe and they all come to nothing,” he lamented.

 

His remarks at the time aligned with several international reports, including a June 2020 publication by the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on International Freedom of Religion or Belief titled “Nigeria – Unfolding Genocide?”

 

Fast-Forward to 2024: Kukah Rejects Claims of Christian Persecution

 

However, in stark contrast to his 2020 warning, Bishop Kukah recently dismissed claims that Christians are being persecuted in Nigeria.

 

Speaking during the 46th Supreme Convention of the Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM) in Kaduna, Kukah debunked reports alleging widespread Christian killings and church burnings.

 

“They are saying that 1,200 churches are burnt in Nigeria every year — in which Nigeria?” he asked. “Nobody approached the Catholic Church to get accurate data. We do not know where these figures came from.”

 

The bishop said many of the statistics circulating online lack credible sources and that the Catholic Church, which maintains the most detailed records, was never consulted.

 

He questioned the motivations behind the narrative of persecution:

 

“All those talking about persecution — has anyone ever called to ask, ‘Bishop Kukah, what is the situation?’ Catholics do not indulge in hearsay.”

 

Kukah also argued that Christians hold significant social and economic influence in Nigeria:

 

“At least 80% of educated Nigerians are Christians, and up to 85% of the economy is controlled by Christians. With such figures, how can anyone say Christians are being persecuted?”

 

 

On ‘Genocide’: A Clarification or Contradiction?

 

Addressing the use of the term genocide, Bishop Kukah made a sharp distinction:

 

“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.”

 

 

He cautioned against the careless use of the term, insisting that many commentators do not understand its legal meaning.

This attempt at clarification has, however, been interpreted by many critics as a walk-back from his earlier position.

 

Why the Sudden Change? Public Speculation Grows

 

As the contradictory statements circulate, Nigerians are debating whether Bishop Kukah’s shift is influenced by political factors.

 

Some Nigerians question whether his recent appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Pro-Chancellor of the newly established Federal University of Technology, Kaduna, may have played a role.

 

While there is no direct evidence linking the appointment to his remarks, the timing has amplified speculation.

 

Kukah has long been outspoken on national issues, often criticizing successive governments — including those of Presidents Jonathan and Buhari — on insecurity, corruption, and governance. His sudden softening on Christian persecution, therefore, stands out.

 

A Country Still in Crisis

 

Regardless of the debate surrounding Bishop Kukah’s evolving stance, Nigeria continues to grapple with widespread insecurity.

 

From Boko Haram to ISWAP, from bandits to ethnic militias, millions of Nigerians — Christians and Muslims alike — remain trapped in cycles of violence.

 

Kukah himself acknowledged in 2020 that the situation had become dire:

 

“The evidence is there for all to see… Nigeria is an epicenter of terrorism in the region.”

 

What remains unclear is whether he believes the situation has improved significantly since then or whether his more recent position reflects a reassessment based on newer internal data within the Catholic Church.

 

The Bigger Question

 

The resurfaced comments have ignited a larger national discussion:

Is Nigeria witnessing religious persecution, or are narratives about genocide being exaggerated for political and ideological reasons?

 

Bishop Kukah’s contrasting statements — one asserting genocide, the other denying persecution — capture the complexity of Nigeria’s security crisis. Both Christians and Muslims continue to suffer devastating losses in the ongoing violence.

 

Whether his latest position will help calm tensions or further polarize opinion remains to be seen.