Bishop Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, has decried the unjust treatment and unimaginable persecution of Christians in Northern Nigeria.
While speaking virtually on Friday at the Silver Jubilee Anniversary of the Order of the Knights of St Mulumba Nigeria Eko Subordinate Council in Lagos, he highlighted the severe challenges Christians face in the region.
“If you look at our country Nigeria, the issue is that, in Northern Nigeria, Christians constitute some of the groups that you can kill without consequences. You can ask yourself; has anybody ever been charged for burning churches or for destroying Christian properties?” he questioned, noting that the perpetrators are allowed to move freely without facing punishment.
Kukah lamented that despite the numerous atrocities committed against Christians in Northern Nigeria, not a single individual had been charged to court for these incidents. He recalled incidents where a pastor was slaughtered openly in Adamawa, and priests were killed in Benue and Kaduna, emphasizing that it seems as if killing Christians is the only crime that goes unpunished.
He pointed out that Christianity in many parts of Northern Nigeria has become largely subordinated to ethnicity and is merely tolerated. Christians are being denied lands to build churches, and such discrimination is not seen as a problem. Kukah also shared a similar challenge he faced in Kenya, where Christians were denied land for building a church.
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The bishop stressed that the gospel must be preached regardless of political or ethnic boundaries. He argued that martyrdom is not just about being killed but about standing for the truth in a morally broken society where the distinction between right and wrong has become blurred. Despite the dangers, Kukah affirmed that Christians should not retreat but embrace the challenges.
Kukah also recounted personal losses in his diocese, including the kidnapping and killing of seminarians and priests. Despite these threats, he remains resolute in his mission, sharing that many have questioned why he continues to return to Sokoto after such incidents, but he remains inspired to persist in his ministry.
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