Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has delivered a blistering critique of former President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing his administration of alienating Christians and creating conditions that emboldened jihadist groups across Nigeria.
Speaking at the launch of the Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) 2025 World Report on Religious Freedom in Vatican City, Bishop Kukah described Buhari’s eight-year tenure as “the worst phase in interfaith relations” in the country’s recent history.
“We are in the cusp of a weak state with a clear lack of capacity to arrest the descent into anarchy,” Kukah said.
“Nigerians are dying unacceptable deaths across the country — not only because of their religion but also their ethnicity.”
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The outspoken cleric said the Buhari administration’s policies deepened divisions and weakened the fabric of national unity by marginalising sections of the population along religious and ethnic lines.
“The eight years under former President Muhammadu Buhari were the worst phase in interfaith relations,” he stated, alleging that “his government’s approach alienated Christians and emboldened jihadists.”
Bishop Kukah noted that the government’s failure to confront insecurity decisively allowed extremist groups to expand their influence across northern Nigeria. He warned that the consequences of that neglect continue to haunt the country.
“What we witnessed was a state that appeared indifferent to the cries of victims while enabling a culture of impunity among attackers. This has worsened interreligious mistrust and further endangered national cohesion,” he said.
Despite his criticism, Kukah urged the international community to resist labelling Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged religious persecution, arguing that punitive measures could derail ongoing peacebuilding and interfaith dialogue efforts.
The bishop called for a more constructive global partnership to help Nigeria rebuild trust among its diverse religious and ethnic communities.
Kukah’s remarks come amid renewed debate about the roots of Nigeria’s security crisis, with some international observers describing the violence as targeted persecution of Christians — a characterisation the Vatican has cautioned against, insisting that both Muslims and Christians are victims of the country’s instability.
By linking Buhari’s legacy to the current security breakdown, Bishop Kukah has reignited conversation around governance, religious tolerance, and the cost of political exclusion in Africa’s most populous nation.
