Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto has expressed deep concern over the ongoing persecution of Christians in Northern Nigeria, lamenting that those responsible for these attacks are allowed to operate with impunity. He highlighted that despite numerous incidents of violence against the church in the North in recent years, no one has been prosecuted for these crimes.
Speaking virtually at the Silver Jubilee Anniversary of the Order of the Knights of St. Mulumba Nigeria, Eko Subordinate Council, held in Lagos, Kukah condemned the increasing ethnic bias against Christianity in Nigeria and called for an end to such discriminatory attitudes.
Kukah noted that Christians in Northern Nigeria seem to be targets who can be attacked without repercussions, citing examples such as the killing of pastors and the burning of churches. He criticized the lack of accountability for these crimes and emphasized that such violence should be of concern to all Christians, regardless of location.
He also pointed out the troubling trend of Christianity being subordinated to ethnic interests, and how some people continue to view those outside their ethnic group as adversaries. This has led to issues like Christians being denied land for church construction, a problem he also noted in Kenya.
The bishop stressed the need to continue preaching the gospel despite opposition, underscoring that the message of Christianity transcends political and ethnic boundaries. He reflected on the nature of martyrdom, asserting that it involves standing firm in the truth even in the face of death or severe challenges.
