Kukah’s Claim That Bandits Attack Only Christian Schools Is Totally False

The presidency has expressed that the claim by Matthew Kukah, Catholic bishop of Sokoto diocese, that only Christian schools are affected by insecurity is false.

Recall that in his address to the United States Congress Commission, Kukah criticised the Buhari administration for failing to address insecurity.

He also accused Buhari of showing preference to people of his religion, which according to him, has worsened the level of rivalry between Christians and Muslims.

However, reacting in a statement on Sunday, Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, stated that Kukah is trying to sow discord and strife among Nigerians.

Also Read: Buhari’s Govt Is Helpless, Kukah Tells US Congress

Shehu also described Kukah’s claim that only Christian schools are being targeted by bandits or terrorists as untrue.

“With due respect to the esteemed position he holds, the Bishop’s assertion that only Christian schools are being targeted by bandits or terrorists is not supported by the facts on the ground,” he said.

“It is sad to say but also true that victims of crime, kidnapping, banditry and terrorism cut across all strata of the society. Sad but true that Kankara students in Katsina State were stolen by bandits of the same Islamic faith as those they took away.

“The same may be true of those who are still holding the 134 students of the Islamic School at Tegina in Niger State. The nation witnessed the sad incident of the female students abducted by bandits at Jangebe in Zamfara State and the over 100 predominantly Muslim students of the Federal Government Girls College Birnin Yauri in Kebbi State who are currently in captivity — and the nation’s security agencies are hard at work to release them unharmed.

“The attack on Christian students is sad and unacceptable; so also is the abduction of students of other faiths. The claim that only Christian schools are being targeted is totally untrue.”