PRESS RELEASE

 

Kukah Centre Denounces Misleading Reports, Reaffirms Stand on Ongoing Persecution of Christians

The Kukah Centre (TKC) has issued a strongly worded statement distancing itself from media reports that falsely suggest its founder, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, denied the existence of Christian persecution or genocide in Nigeria.

In a press release signed by the Executive Director, Fr. Atta Barkindo, Ph.D, the Centre expressed concern over what it described as “selective attributions” and “mischaracterisation” of Bishop Kukah’s recent remarks at two major events: the 2025 World Report on Religious Freedom launched at the Vatican on 21 October, and the 46th Supreme Convention of the Knights of St. Mulumba held in Kaduna on 28 November.

According to the Centre, nowhere in Bishop Kukah’s comments did he diminish the seriousness of faith-based persecution in Nigeria. Instead, it reaffirmed that the Bishop has consistently highlighted the alarming rise in targeted attacks on Christian communities, especially in Northern Nigeria.

The Centre quoted Bishop Kukah's original remarks, stressing that he has repeatedly drawn attention to how failures by both federal and state authorities have allowed violent killings and attacks to escalate. “By whatever names we choose, the fact is that Nigerians are dying unacceptable deaths across the country,” the statement noted, pointing out that many of these victims are targeted because of their religious identity as well as their ethnicity.

TKC clarified that the misleading reports stripped Bishop Kukah’s words of context, ignoring his long-standing advocacy for religious freedom, human rights, and justice for persecuted Christian communities. At the Kaduna convention, the Bishop reportedly traced the history of Christian persecution from biblical times to the present, urging believers to remain steadfast in faith, solidarity, and healing—even in moments of crisis.

The Centre emphasized that the Bishop’s commitment to the protection and empowerment of persecuted Christians is well-documented in decades of public service, research, and advocacy.

To counter the ongoing spread of misinformation, TKC has now made the full text and presentation of Bishop Kukah’s remarks available on its official website, www.thekukahcentre.org.

Reiterating its position, The Kukah Centre stated:

“TKC continues to urge zero tolerance for religious persecution; solidarity with the victims and affected communities; and accountability for the perpetrators.”

The Centre called on journalists, commentators, and the public to engage responsibly and avoid reporting that distorts or undermines the genuine suffering of vulnerable communities across Nigeria.

Infocity News can report.