• ‘We need support to crush terrorists, not labelling ’
Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has urged the United States not to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over religious freedom.
He warned that such a move would “hurt ongoing efforts” to promote dialogue, national healing, and interfaith understanding under the Tinubu Administration.
Also yesterday, presidential aide Daniel Bwala alleged that there is an orchestrated move by some individuals in the United States Congress to present Nigeria in a negative light to attract sanctions by President Donald Trump.
Speaking at the launch of the Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) 2025 World Report on Religious Freedom in the World at the Augustinianum Hall, Vatican City, Kukah acknowledged that Nigeria remains plagued by violence and discrimination.
He, however, noted that “encouraging signs of progress” should be strengthened, not punished.
He canvassed support for the government to crush terrorists instead of labelling the country.
“Redesignating Nigeria a Country of Concern will only make our work in the area of dialogue among religious leaders even harder,” Kukah said.
“It will increase tensions, sow doubt, open windows of suspicion and fear, and allow criminals and perpetrators of violence to exploit divisions.
“What Nigeria needs now is vigilance and partnership, not punishment.”
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz had accused Nigerian officials of facilitating the mass murder of Christians, describing the situation as a genocide against Christians.
He claimed that since 2009, tens of thousands of Christians have been killed, thousands of churches destroyed, and Christian communities targeted by Islamist militants, particularly Boko Haram and its splinter groups.
Cruz has introduced legislation called the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act, intended to sanction Nigerian officials who he alleges have ignored or even promoted violence against Christians.
He is also pushing for Nigeria to be designated a “country of particular concern” for severe violations of religious freedom, a status that could lead to U.S. sanctions.
The Federal Government has consistently denied that it is carrying out, or complicit in, a systematic genocide against Christians.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described claims of genocide as “false, baseless, despicable and divisive,” warning that such narratives misrepresent Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
The government argues that violence in Nigeria is not targeted at any one religious group but affects Christians, Muslims, and non-religious citizens alike.
It highlighted Nigeria’s religious diversity and pointed out that Christians hold senior positions in the security services to underscore inclusivity.
President Trump’s adviser on Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, had also refuted claims of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria.
He said: “Those who know the terrain well know that terrorism has no colour, no religion, and no tribe.
“People of all religions and backgrounds are suffering. Boko Haram and ISIS have killed more Muslims than Christians. This is not about one group being targeted over another.”
The Senate and the House of Representatives, in different motions, criticised the position of the U.S. Senator.
Kukah, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s leading voices on human rights and interfaith relations, admitted that the country had failed to fully protect citizens’ rights to worship freely.
He commended President Tinubu’s government for showing “a willingness to listen and act inclusively.”
Kukah cited the appointment of Christians to key national positions — such as the Chief of Defence Staff, the Director of the Department of State Services, the INEC Chairman, and the National Chairman of the ruling party — as confidence-building measures that inspire a sense of belonging.
He also praised President Tinubu’s visit to Benue State after the Yelwata killings.
While acknowledging that Christian minorities in northern Nigeria still face discrimination — including denial of land for church buildings, refusal to rebuild destroyed places of worship, and limited access to religious education —Kukah said Nigeria’s crisis should not be oversimplified as state-backed religious oppression.
“I live in Sokoto, in the womb of Islam, and I move freely in my regalia,” he said.
“The Sultan of Sokoto attends our events and supports our work. This is not to say there are no problems, but the daily realities of interfaith life in Nigeria are far more complex.”
He added that terrorists and extremist groups have attacked both Christians and Muslims who reject their ideology, turning parts of Nigeria into “a tragic killing field.”
Kukah cautioned against labelling Nigeria as a country of religious oppression, saying such narratives overlook the deeper causes — weak governance, poverty, ethnicity, and organised crime.
The bishop reminded his audience that Nigeria had been placed on the CPC list in 2020 during Trump’s first term but was removed by President Joe Biden.
While acknowledging the importance of international watchdogs, he said another designation now would “undermine fragile interfaith efforts.”
“Nigeria must stand before the mirror and decide how to create a country of common citizenship,” he said. “The goal should be reform, not stigmatisation.
“We need encouragement to build peace, not labels that isolate us.”
Kukah called for constructive international engagement, including support for Nigeria’s military to combat jihadists and bandits.
He accused the Obama administration of blocking Nigeria’s access to weapons under President Goodluck Jonathan, which he said “set back the fight against Boko Haram.”
“I appeal to President Donald Trump, who is working for peace in the Middle East, to lift the restrictions and help Nigeria access the tools it needs to defeat terror,” he said.
Despite ongoing human rights concerns, Kukah expressed optimism that the current administration’s inclusiveness — and the symbolic interfaith makeup of the First Family, with a Muslim President and a Pentecostal First Lady — offers “a window of hope.”
He urged the government to enforce constitutional secularism and challenge the adoption of Sharia law by 12 northern states, describing it as “unconstitutional and dangerous.”
“The President should go to court to have the adoption of Sharia law declared unconstitutional,” he said.
“That is the only way to end mob justice and restore confidence in Nigeria’s secular state.”
Kukah said Nigeria could still make “a great contribution to world peace” if it confronts religious extremism head-on.
“Despite our challenges, we should be supported and encouraged, not punished,” he said.
“Let Nigeria be judged not only by its wounds, but by its willingness to heal.”
Presidency alleges coordinated agenda
The Presidency alleged that a “coordinated agenda” is underway among a group of United States lawmakers and lobbyists to manipulate U.S. President Trump into sanctioning Nigeria by falsely branding it a country that persecutes religious minorities.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communication, Bwala, who made the claim on Arise News’ Prime Time programme yesterday, said the campaign was built on “disinformation and religious manipulation” designed to destabilise the country and tarnish its global image.
“There is a coordinated agenda against Nigeria. Those pushing this narrative are not in the executive branch of the U.S. government; they are a pack-backed group of senators hoping to rile up President Trump to designate Nigeria as a CPC.
“Knowing Trump’s character, if he believed them, he would have done it three weeks ago,” Bwala said.
The presidential aide alleged that those driving the campaign were deliberately misrepresenting isolated cases of communal violence and terrorism to paint Nigeria as a country engaged in systematic religious persecution.
“Religion has always been the instrument. They are doing this to stir division, weaken Nigeria’s image, and create panic internationally,” he added.
Bwala maintained that the current agitation in Washington was politically motivated and not reflective of Nigeria’s realities.
He said the government would not engage in lobbying but would counter the misinformation with verifiable facts.
