In Nigeria, a Catholic Bishop Tries to Tone Down the Uproar After U.S. Missile Strikes

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 6 min read 100% complete by Dionne SearceyJanuary 28, 2026 at 11:00 AM

AI Summary

long article 6 min

In Nigeria, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Catholic diocese worked to calm tensions after a U.S. missile strike in his region on December 26, 2025. The strikes, authorized by President Trump, targeted Islamist extremists outside the city of Sokoto in northwest Nigeria, a predominantly Muslim area. Bishop Kukah initially feared the bombing would be perceived as a war against Muslims, potentially undermining his efforts to foster interfaith relations. He was relieved to learn the targets were extremists responsible for violence in the country. For months, Bishop Kukah had been attempting to moderate rhetoric from the U.S. and some Nigerians about a supposed Christian genocide, arguing the situation was more complex.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

ISIS 40% Islam 40% Roman Catholic ×250% United States 60% Sokoto ×670% Donald Trump ×370% Nigeria ×580% Matthew Hassan Kukah ×590%

Keywords

nigeria 100% catholic bishop 90% sokoto 80% muslim region 80% missile strikes 70% christian genocide 60% religious conflict 60% interfaith relations 50% isis terrorist 50%