CV NEWS FEED // Nigerian Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah called for an end to what he describes as the country’s “culture of death,” fueled by Islamic extremist violence targeting Christians in the country, according to Catholic World Report (CWR).
The Bishop’s Jan. 24 comments came in response to the 2025 World Watch List released by watchdog organization Open Doors, which once again ranks Nigeria as the deadliest place for Christians in the world.
Nigeria accounted for the highest number of Christians killed for their faith in 2024, with 3,100 of the 4,476 global Christian martyrs coming from the West African country. While this number is slightly lower than the previous year, Bishop Kukah warned against complacency.
“One priest who has lost his life to bandits or any unnatural death is too many,” he told CWR.
“We cannot therefore celebrate the fact that we are witnessing a reduction,” Bishop Kukah continued. “We want to see the eradication and punishment and total abolishment of this culture of death in our country. So, I am still saddened that these evil men and women are still on rampage, ravaging our country and leaving tears and blood in their wake.”
A separate report by Aid to the Church in Need revealed the growing dangers faced by clergy and religious worldwide, with Nigeria remaining one of the most perilous places for Catholic priests.
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Father Moses Lorapuu, director of communications for the Diocese of Makurdi, described Nigeria as “the most dangerous place for Catholic priests and the religious.” He explained that the kidnapping and murdering of Christians and clergy is becoming “normalized” and Islamic terrorists are gradually winning.
“Their bigots who are in positions of authority do not pretend about their mission to Islamize Nigeria,” he added.
Concerns over government and military complicity in Christian persecution have also been raised. Emeka Umeagbalasi of the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law accused Nigeria’s security forces of either allowing or participating in attacks against Christians.
“The worst part of it is that the military, the security forces, are found to be conspiratorially involved,” Emeka told CWR, describing the country’s military as “a branch of a government jihad, a state jihad.”
He said, “They either conspire in the massacre of Christians or are directly involved.”
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