“Boko Haram Fight Jihad, Not Just War — Kukah Exposes Dangerous Ideology Driving Terrorists”

Bishop Matthew Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, has urged Nigeria to shift its strategy against Boko Haram from relying solely on military might to tackling the twisted ideology fueling their insurgency.

Speaking in a video shared by Symfoni TV, the outspoken cleric warned that while soldiers fight with the hope of survival and a safe return home, Boko Haram fighters are indoctrinated with a dangerous religious narrative that makes them view death as victory.

According to Kukah, the terrorists are brainwashed to believe they are waging a “holy jihad,” with promises of eternal rewards in paradise, including virgins awaiting them. This belief, he stressed, emboldens them to embrace death with little fear, making the war harder to win through weapons alone.

> “You are fighting, hoping to go back home,” Kukah said. “Boko Haram people are fighting a jihad, and they have been told the number of virgins waiting for them in paradise. So they are ready to die.”

He emphasized that defeating Boko Haram requires dismantling these radical ideas through education, dialogue, and counter-narratives that expose the falsehood of their ideology.

Kukah’s remarks reignite the debate over Nigeria’s counterterrorism approach, highlighting the urgent need to complement military operations with psychological, religious, and community-driven strategies to undercut extremist indoctrination.