‘You Can Kill 10 Million Nigerians and It Still Won’t Amount to Genocide’ — Bishop Kukah Denies Claims of Christian Massacre in Nigeria

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese and Convener of the National Peace Committee (NPC), Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has firmly rejected widespread claims that Christians in Nigeria are facing genocide or state-backed persecution.

 

The outspoken cleric, known for his long-standing advocacy for justice and national unity, argued that much of the narrative being circulated locally and internationally is not only exaggerated but rooted in sensationalism rather than verifiable data.

 

Bishop Kukah’s latest remarks come amid a wave of criticism directed at him following reports that he discouraged the international community from designating Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” — a label often associated with nations that tolerate or promote severe violations of religious freedom. Critics argued that downplaying the situation in Nigeria could hinder international pressure on the government to act. But the revered bishop insists his position is guided by facts, context, and a deep understanding of Nigeria’s fragile sociopolitical landscape.

 

Speaking during the presentation of a paper at the 46th Supreme Convention of the Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM) in Kaduna, Kukah clarified his stance and dismissed claims that Christians are being systematically targeted or exterminated in the country. Drawing on extensive studies, consultations with senior church leaders, and decades of experience working on peace and conflict resolution, he insisted that the popular narrative of genocide does not align with evidence on the ground.

 

“In Which Nigeria Are 1,200 Churches Burnt Annually?” — Bishop Kukah Questions Data

 

One of Kukah’s most pointed criticisms was directed at the figures often cited by advocacy groups and commentators claiming that more than a thousand churches are destroyed every year in Nigeria. The bishop described these numbers as dubious and unverified, noting that no one had ever approached the Catholic Church — the largest Christian institution in the country — to obtain official records.

 

“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,” he said.

 

 

According to him, many of the widely circulated statistics cleverly avoid referencing the Catholic Church because, as he put it, “Catholics do not indulge in hearsay.” He insisted that the church maintains detailed and verifiable records and would readily provide accurate information if asked — something he says those pushing the persecution narrative have failed to do.

 

Genocide Is About Intent, Not Numbers

 

Perhaps Bishop Kukah’s most controversial statement was his clarification on the use of the term genocide. He argued that contrary to common belief, genocide is not defined primarily by the number of people killed but by the intent behind the killing.

 

In his words:

“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. You don’t determine genocide by numbers; you determine it by intention. We need to be more clinical in the issues we discuss.”

 

 

He explained that as someone who has presented a 1,270-page study on genocide in Nigeria and other countries at the Vatican, his stance is informed by rigorous research, not emotion or political pressure.

 

“If 80% of Educated Nigerians Are Christians, How Are Christians Persecuted?”

 

Bishop Kukah also challenged what he described as the oversimplified and misleading portrayal of Christians as a helpless or oppressed minority in Nigeria. Citing demographic and socioeconomic indicators, he argued that Christians occupy influential positions across sectors and hold significant economic power.

 

“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?”

 

 

While acknowledging that individual Christians have suffered attacks — especially in areas affected by insurgency or farmer–herder conflicts — he insisted these incidents do not amount to a coordinated campaign against Christianity.

 

Internal Disunity Among Christians, Not Persecution, Is the Real Threat — Kukah

 

According to the bishop, the biggest challenge facing Nigerian Christians is not persecution from external forces but internal disunity and a failure to defend one another when crises arise. He criticised the tendency of some Christian groups to exaggerate events for sympathy or political gains instead of working towards unity and strategic engagement.

 

“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 asserted.

 

 

Misuse of the Term ‘Martyrdom’

 

Bishop Kukah also cautioned against loosely labeling victims of violence as martyrs, arguing that not every death within a church building is an act of religious hatred.

 

He said:

“Because someone is killed in a church, does that automatically make them a martyr? Whether you are killed while stealing someone’s yams or attacked by bandits, does that qualify as martyrdom? I am worried because we must think more deeply.”

 

 

The cleric stressed that martyrdom, by Christian theological definition, involves being killed specifically for one’s faith, not merely being killed while present in a place of worship.

 

Clarifying Earlier Misunderstandings

 

Bishop Kukah expressed disappointment that many who criticised his earlier remarks never bothered to seek clarification or examine the context in which he spoke. He maintained that his position aligns entirely with that of the Vatican Secretary of State, the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, and other senior Catholic leaders.

 

> “My argument is that it is not accurate to claim there is genocide or martyrdom in Nigeria,” he said, emphasizing that emotional narratives must not replace factual analysis.

 

Conclusion

 

Bishop Matthew Kukah’s remarks have once again stirred national debate on the true state of religious freedom and security in Nigeria. While his position challenges the narratives held by some Christian advocacy groups, it also underscores the complexity of Nigeria’s violent conflicts — many of which are driven by banditry, terrorism, poverty, and communal tensions rather than religious motives.

 

His message, grounded in research and decades of peace-building experience, calls for honesty, unity, and nuance — urging Christians and Nigerians at large to avoid sensationalism and focus on evidence-based discourse.

 

Story credit: Vanguard Newspaper