By Passman Akpos
Kaduna — A storm of outrage erupted nationwide after the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, delivered a controversial statement during the 46th Supreme Convention of the Knights of St. Mulumba in Kaduna.
In a comment that has sent Christians, activists, and security analysts into a fiery debate, Bishop Kukah declared:
> “Genocide is not based on the number of people killed. You can kill 10 million people and it still won’t amount to genocide. The critical determinant is intent.”
The remark—aimed at addressing claims of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria—has struck a raw nerve among communities who have lost loved ones to terrorism, banditry, and religious violence.
“WHAT KIND OF BISHOP IS THIS?” — PUBLIC OUTRAGE SPILLS INTO THE OPEN
Across churches, social media platforms, and community gatherings, Nigerians are asking one question:
“What kind of bishop makes such a statement?”
To many grieving families, the Bishop’s comment felt like a dismissal of their pain—an academic lecture delivered in the face of lived trauma.
Online, Nigerians flooded comment sections with grief, anger, and disbelief:
“Imagine hearing this when your family was slaughtered.”
“How do you measure intent when people are being killed every day?”
“Does he speak for Christians or for the government?”
A viral post by social commentator Isaac Show, reacting to a circulating photo from the event, intensified the debate:
> “If you observe this picture well, you’ll agree this is a political bishop… dining with power brokers while ordinary Christians are dying.”
“THE CHURCH IS BLEEDING” — TRUST IN SPIRITUAL LEADERS ERODES FURTHER
Many Nigerians, already disillusioned by insecurity, say comments like this deepen a widening gap between church leaders and their followers.
Some said this controversy is one of the reasons church attendance has dropped:
> “People are tired. They no longer trust those speaking from the pulpit.”
Others questioned why voices from the most affected areas, like Benue, Plateau, and Southern Kaduna, are rarely amplified by national media:
> “Why interview Kukah and not Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo or other frontline pastors? Is it because Kukah is the voice government prefers?”
A NATION DEMANDS ANSWERS: WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD?
Beyond the outrage, Nigerians are united on one point:
They want the killings to stop—genocide or not.
Communities insist on immediate solutions:
Better security
Protection for vulnerable Christians and rural communities
Federal transparency on terror operations
International intervention if the government fails
One commenter captured the national mood:
> “Forget the grammar—people are dying. We need action, not debates.”
THE BIG QUESTION: HOW DO WE DEFINE INTENT IN MASS KILLINGS?
Security analysts now challenge Bishop Kukah’s core argument:
Who determines the intent behind mass killings?
How do we differentiate ethnoreligious violence, terrorism, and genocide?
How many deaths does it take before the world pays attention?
The controversy has opened a deeper discussion about Nigeria’s long-ignored security crisis, and whether religious leaders are rising to the moment—or retreating into political diplomacy.
THE AFTERMATH: A WOUNDED NATION WATCHES CLOSELY
As reactions continue pouring in, many Nigerians believe this moment will define the credibility of religious leaders for years to come.
Whether Bishop Kukah clarifies or stands by his words remains to be seen.
But one thing is clear:
Nigeria is hurting, and its people are desperate for truth, justice, and safety.
