No Outright Christian Persecution in Nigeria, Tinubu Taking Steps Toward Reform — Bishop Kukah Tells International Community

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has urged the international community not to classify Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged religious freedom violations, warning that such a move could deepen divisions and undermine efforts to foster cooperation between faith communities and the government.

Speaking at the launch of the *2025 World Report on Religious Freedom* by Aid to the Church in Need (ACIN) at the Augustinianum Hall in Vatican City, Bishop Kukah described Nigeria’s situation as tragic but emphasized that punitive measures from abroad could harm ongoing initiatives aimed at restoring trust.

He acknowledged that Nigeria has suffered years of jihadist and bandit violence, leading to widespread deaths, kidnappings, and displacement. “For over 15 years, murderous gangs of Islamicists and jihadist groups have wreaked havoc, destroying lives and livelihoods,” he said. “Thousands of communities have been razed, and farmlands abandoned. The flood of blood in Nigeria knows no boundaries.”

Kukah noted that while much of the violence has religious undertones, the situation cannot be reduced to a simple narrative of Christian persecution. He highlighted the resilience of interfaith relations in northern Nigeria, citing his own experience in Sokoto, where he lives and works among Muslims in peace. “If we were dealing with outright persecution of Christians on identity grounds, both myself and my flock would not exist,” he said, recalling his cordial relationship with the Sultan of Sokoto and other Muslim leaders.

The bishop, however, lamented the government’s failure over the years to address insecurity decisively, saying it has created conditions for widespread killings. “The inability of the federal government and its security agencies to end these killings has allowed genocide-like conditions to emerge in several communities,” he said.

Reflecting on past administrations, Kukah said the Buhari government marked “the worst phase in the history of interfaith relations in Nigeria,” accusing it of policies that favored northern Muslims and alienated Christians. By contrast, he credited President Bola Tinubu’s administration with taking steps toward inclusion, noting recent appointments of Christians to key positions such as the Chief of Army Staff, the head of the DSS, and the INEC chairman.

He also praised Tinubu’s symbolic gestures, such as visiting victims of violence in Benue State, as “confidence-building measures” that signal empathy and a willingness to listen. “We are still in a bad place, but there are signs of a government willing to reform,” Kukah said.

Citing the *Global Terrorism Index 2025*, he noted a 37% decline in terrorist attacks in Nigeria in 2024, though he warned that religious freedom remains under severe threat. “Discrimination against Christians in northern states, combined with relentless atrocities nationwide, continues to render both Christians and moderate Muslims vulnerable,” he said.

Kukah reiterated the need to uphold Nigeria’s secular Constitution and called for a judicial review of the adoption of Sharia law in 12 northern states, which he described as unconstitutional and a trigger for mob justice. He stressed that persecution also includes subtle denials of rights — such as access to worship spaces, employment, and education — not just acts of violence.

He concluded by urging the government to act on the principles of equality and justice reflected in Nigeria’s national anthem. “Now is the time to build a country where no one is oppressed,” Kukah said. “This report is not to make anyone happy or sad, but a wake-up call for Nigeria to decide the kind of nation it wants to be.”