Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, says President Muhammadu Buhari cannot be wishing Christians merry Christmas when under his watch, many Christians in Northern Nigeria are living in fear. 

In an interview with ARISE TV on Monday morning, the Catholic cleric condemned incessant attacks on Christians by Islam extremists in the North. 

Asked about development on the trial of the killers of Deborah Samuel, a student murdered and set ablaze by a jihadist in Sokoto over a blasphemy claim, Mr Kukah stated, “The governor (Aminu Tambuwal) simply announced that these people who did this were going to be tried. How could that provoke young people to go and start destroying the properties of Christians? These things were done openly.”

The Catholic leader added, “When a president (Muhammadu Buhari) wants to wish me happy Christmas, I need to hear him say nobody should lose their lives because somebody stands up somewhere and says he wants to defend his religion. Christians have remained vulnerable. Their businesses remain objects of target practice.”

The Catholic cleric decried apparent Muslim youths protesting against the arrest of Ms Deborah’s alleged killers for attacking his diocese and destroying properties.

“So when people tell me we are wishing you (a) happy Christmas, we need you to walk the talk. Christians living in northern Nigeria are living in fear despite our massive contribution to economic well-being and (and we’re) law-abiding because we don’t know what will happen next,” said Mr Kukah.

He further lamented that “I’m sitting here in Sokoto. My parishioners are moving out in droves. Everyone is tired.”

Nigerian police said Ms Deborah’s killer seen in a viral video, is a citizen of the Niger Republic and could not be found.