Prominent cleric Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah released a clarifying statement on Monday, December 8, 2025, to address a week of controversy, expressing deep regret that his remarks had been misinterpreted to mean he denied the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto issued a personal apology for the “pain and mental anguish” the misrepresentation had caused, while forcefully rejecting claims that he had made such a denial.
“I did not say that Christians are not persecuted in Nigeria!” Kukah stated unequivocally in the release, adding that the attributed position was completely false, noting, “Nothing could be further from the truth.”
The controversy stems from an address the Bishop delivered to the Catholic Knights of St. Mulumba in Kaduna on November 28, where he said he spoke on the challenges of Christian witness during periods of persecution. He clarified that his core argument focused on internal Christian solidarity, not a denial of suffering.
“Given the huge human and material resources that we have as Christians in Nigeria, if only we stood together, I argued, we would have no reason to be victims of persecution,” he explained, stressing that this argument “implied a denial of the fate of Christians.”
Kukah stressed that the focus should remain on accountability and national healing rather than debate. He insisted that the government must act urgently to end the violence, saying the administration and its security agencies have “an urgent responsibility to bring the perpetrators to account.”
Concluding his statement, Bishop Kukah apologized for the resulting confusion, noting that the national crisis was too severe for distractions. “I am deeply sorry for the unnecessary distraction. These moments are too serious for us to equivocate,” he stated.
