Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, has made a significant intervention in the national discourse on Nigeria's security situation, firmly stating that the country is not experiencing a Christian genocide.
Clarifying the Definition of Genocide
Speaking at the 46th Supreme Convention of the Knights of St. Mulumba in Kaduna, the prominent cleric and Convener of the National Peace Committee provided a detailed explanation of why the ongoing violence does not constitute genocide. Bishop Kukah emphasized that genocide is determined by intent, not by the number of casualties.
"Genocide is not based on the number of people killed," Kukah stated authoritatively. "You can kill ten 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."
He further explained that his position aligns with that of the Vatican Secretary of State, the President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria, and all Catholic bishops across the country.
Questioning the Data on Christian Persecution
The Bishop strongly challenged the figures commonly circulated about attacks on Christians and churches in Nigeria. He expressed particular concern about claims that 1,200 churches are burnt in Nigeria every year.
"I ask myself, in which Nigeria?" Kukah questioned. "Interestingly, nobody approached the Catholic Church to get accurate data. We do not know where these figures came from."
Kukah noted that the data being circulated deliberately avoids the Catholic Church because, in his words, "they know Catholics do not indulge in hearsay."
He also questioned the economic narrative of Christian persecution, pointing out that "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?"
Internal Divisions and the Martyrdom Question
According to Bishop Kukah, many concerns within Christian communities stem from internal divisions rather than organized targeting. He identified the main problem as Christians succumbing 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 advised.
The Bishop also cautioned against loosely describing victims of violence as martyrs. "Because someone is killed in a church, does that automatically make them a martyr?" he asked. "Whether you are killed while stealing someone's yam or attacked by bandits, does that qualify as martyrdom? I am worried because we must think more deeply."
Addressing reactions to his earlier position against the international designation of Nigeria as a "country of particular concern," Kukah explained that such labels could heighten tension and enable criminal groups to exploit divisions.
He revealed that his stance is backed by extensive research, noting that he presented "a 1,270-page study on genocide in Nigeria and elsewhere" at the Vatican. "My argument is that it is not accurate to claim there is genocide or martyrdom in Nigeria," he concluded.
