The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, conducted his annual Christmas pastoral visit to the Sokoto Custodial Centre on Thursday, where he met with inmates, including the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Bishop Kukah, in a telephone interview, emphasized that his visit was rooted in pastoral duty and extended to all inmates regardless of their background or alleged offenses."There is nothing wrong with visiting him because I have a pastoral obligation to anyone in my care," he said.
"We focus on human beings, not their condition. We do not judge people."The bishop described these Christmas-season visits to correctional facilities as a longstanding tradition, designed to foster interaction, listen to inmates' concerns, and offer spiritual fellowship.
Accompanied by priests, religious sisters, and lay members of the diocese, the delegation was welcomed by the Controller of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Sokoto State Command, and senior officers.
According to a statement from the Diocese's Director of Communications, Rev. Fr. Pascal Salifu, Bishop Kukah held separate sessions with male and female inmates, lasting approximately three hours.
Inmates openly discussed their experiences, highlighting challenges such as prolonged detention without trial, claims of innocence, poor living conditions, and the need for better facilities and vocational training to support reintegration into society. Several appealed for intervention from authorities.
In response, Bishop Kukah encouraged the inmates to view their time in custody as an opportunity for personal reflection and spiritual renewal. He reassured them of the Catholic Church's ongoing advocacy for justice, fairness, and humane treatment within Nigeria's correctional system.
Kanu, who was transferred to the Sokoto facility following his conviction on terrorism charges and life sentence in November 2025, was among those the bishop engaged with during the outreach. The visit has been noted by supporters as a gesture of solidarity amid ongoing debates over detention conditions and speedy trials in Nigeria.
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People respect the clergy simply because they profess Jesus. I really do not think it is objective enough. These men of the altar are humans that can be influenced with material items of money worth. Take Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah for example.
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