I do not know whether the thought crossed your mind. But it did for me when the controversy began. The thought was rooted in the commentaries surrounding the United States Government’s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), based on claims that Christians are facing horrific persecution in Nigeria because of their faith.
So passionate were the commentators that it seemed common sense was becoming a casualty, and no longer common. Following the conversations, I found the hardening of positions deeply puzzling and troubling.
It never occurred to me that the Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese of the Catholic Church, would be criticised (even by some fellow clerics), for what some perceived as his “soft” stand on the “tribulations” of Christians in the country. Some commentators dug up his past statements to allege he had “shifted ground,” while others referenced the fate of over 140 Catholic priests in recent years, questioning whether the Bishop was deaf to the cries of hundreds massacred for vengeance.
Prof. Usman Yusuf, the contested narrative
I watched an interview with Prof. Usman Yusuf, who, when asked whether Christian leaders like Bishop Kukah were doing enough to present the “correct picture” of the security situation and interfaith relationships in Nigeria, was firm and categorical: NO.
A medical doctor and consultant who has practised medicine in Africa, Europe and America, Usman Yusuf is a professor of haematology-oncology and bone marrow transplantation. He also served as Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016. His resume is extensive.
Prof. Yusuf has built a reputation for outspokenness on public affairs, and some have described him as an unyielding critic of government. His opinion carried weight, further strengthened by the trust the Sultan of Sokoto places in him. Yusuf once represented the head of the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria at an interfaith programme in the United States, to which the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) led the Christian delegation.
In the interview, Prof. Yusuf expressed deep anger over the portrayal of Nigeria as a place where Christians were being persecuted. He referred to the US programme, saying a deliberate attempt was made to sell this narrative. He described claims of Christian genocide as a “falsehood” propagated by individuals seeking economic or other gains.
He specifically referenced the Owo, Ondo State incident, in which Christian worshippers were murdered, saying the attack was presented abroad as the work of Fulani terrorists—a claim he called a “lie.” He also touched on Benue, Plateau and Southern Kaduna, insisting that the term ‘genocide’ is misapplied, since other states are also under siege.
Prof. Yusuf questioned the narrative further: “If killings have been going on, who are the victims? If killings have been going on, who are the terrorists wreaking havoc?”
He also recounted his personal Christian education, having attended Catholic primary schools such as St. George in Zaria, St. Barnabas in Ilorin and Holy Primary School, Sokoto, emphasising that such “genocide narratives” misrepresent the truth.
Fate of Christian missionary schools
Reflecting on Prof. Yusuf’s history, one cannot ignore the fate of many Christian missionary schools in northern Nigeria. Institutions such as Boys Secondary School, Gindiri, and St. Murumba College, Jos, alongside their equivalents in Benue and Nasarawa states, were established by missionaries and still thrive.
However, several other Christian-founded schools in the far North were “killed” or taken over by state authorities without compensation. Examples include St. John’s College, Kaduna (now Rimi College); Queens of Apostles College (now Queen Amina College); St. Faith College, Kaduna (now Government Girls College); St. Peter’s College, Zaria (now Kufena College); and St. Louis College, Zonkwa (now Government Secondary School, Zonkwa). Sudan Interior Mission (SIM) post-primary schools in Kagoro, Kafanchan, Zaria, Kwoi and Fadan Kaje were similarly affected.
Owners of these schools regard the takeovers as “direct affronts on the Church of God to weaken it and slow its progress,” and have continued to seek compensation or restoration.
Prof. Yusuf emphasised that the ‘genocide’ narrative is often driven by monetary motives, though some advocates pursue it for humanitarian, ethical or faith-based reasons.
Accountability, national rebirth
When asked about the impact of the genocide-narrative on Christians in Plateau, Benue and other affected areas, Prof. Yusuf responded bluntly: “…I don’t know what they are thinking about. There are more people, more Muslims killed in Katsina than in Benue or Plateau or any of the Northern Christian-dominated states. End of story.”
Yet, the reality unites all Nigerians: poverty, exclusion and vulnerability affect both Christian and Muslim communities alike. As such, holding perpetrators accountable, providing restitution, and implementing reforms—legal, political, military, economic and social—are essential steps to protect all citizens.
The CPC designation controversy reflected both international concern and domestic frustration. While Nigeria’s underperformance in governance has invited foreign scrutiny, engagement with the international community can also be leveraged constructively to fight terror and improve security.
For sustainable progress, all citizens must take ownership of the Nigeria project through unified, selfless and innovative leadership. By applying justice and healing in equal measure, the nation can overcome divisions, including the ‘genocide’ divide.
Kayi, one-time Managing Editor of THE NIGERIA STANDARD Group of Newspapers, retired from the Plateau State Civil Service as Permanent Secretary, Deputy Governor’s Office in 2023