Kukah Centre Denies Reports That Bishop Kukah Downplayed Christian P£rsecution In Nigeria, Says Cleric Misrepresented
Kukah Centre Denies Reports That Bishop Kukah Downplayed Christian Persecution In Nigeria, Says Cleric Misrepresented
TKC cited Bishop Kukah’s Vatican speech, noting that he explicitly addressed the scale of violence faced by communities across the country.
The Kukah Centre (TKC) has denied media reports suggesting that its founder, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, downplayed the scale of Christian persecution in Nigeria, saying the reports were based on “selective” and inaccurate interpretations of his recent public comments.
In a statement issued on Monday, signed by its Executive Director, Fr. Atta Barkindo, the Centre said the comments attributed to Bishop Kukah from two recent events, the launch of the 2025 World Report on Religious Freedom at the Vatican on October 21, 2025, and the 46th Supreme Convention of the Knights of St. Mulumba in Kaduna on November 28, 2025, “did not reflect the text or context of his remarks.”
TKC cited Bishop Kukah’s Vatican speech, noting that he explicitly addressed the scale of violence faced by communities across the country.
“For the avoidance of doubt, at no point has His Lordship diminished the seriousness of the crisis of faith-based persecution in parts of Nigeria nor has he failed to identify with the very real sufferings caused by it,” the Centre said.
It said, “Indeed, the contrary is the case. In paragraph 5 of his 13-paragraph remarks to the event in the Vatican on 21 October, His Lordship said among other things as follows: ‘what is important is not to create the impression that we have no problems. We do have serious problems but these have escalated because the federal and state governments have, over the years allowed these problems to fester.
“’The inability of the federal government and its security agencies to end these killings has created the condition for the genocide that has taken over many communities today. By whatever names we choose, the fact is that Nigerians are dying unacceptable deaths across the country. In many cases, they are targeted because of their beliefs but also because of their ethnicity.’”
According to the Centre, Bishop Kukah also used his remarks in Kaduna to highlight the historical roots of Christian persecution and to encourage communities to remain committed to faith, solidarity, justice and healing.
“The text & structure of the (PowerPoint) clearly indicates that His Lordship sought to validate the persecution of Christians rather than to diminish or deny it,” the statement said.
The Centre said it had made the full texts of both the Vatican remarks and the Kaduna presentation available on its website to ensure accurate reporting.
“TKC continues to urge zero tolerance for religious persecution; solidarity with the victims and affected communities; and accountability for the perpetrators,” the statement added.
