Former Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) chairman Sam Amadi has demanded the arrest of a Northern Islamic cleric who was shown in a widely shared video advocating for the beheading of a Christian clergy member.
According to 460PLAY, a video clip that went viral on social media a few days ago showed a cleric calling for the pastor’s execution for supposedly disparaging the holy prophet.
In the widely shared video, the Islamic clergy also put a N1 million bounty on the accused blasphemer, showing off some cash and promising to hand it to the murderer once the job was completed.
Social media users were alerted to the unsettling video, which sparked concerns about the possible increase of religious tensions, especially in the country’s north.
In response, Amadi wrote on his X Twitter on Thursday that “Nigeria is a constitutional democracy, not a theocracy” and demanded that the perpetrator of the crime be taken into custody.
“Warning to the Nigerian Government: There is a pastor who is alleged to have said something about a religion that is said to be ‘blasphemous,'” he wrote.
A religious leader has put a reward on his head. Whoever kills the pastor will receive N1 million from him.
“This is illegal. It is necessary to detain and convict this religious leader.
The Nigerian government should also defend the pastor who has been charged with blasphemy.
To be clear, blasphemy is not and cannot be a crime in Nigeria. Speaking negatively about a prophet or any other religious symbol does not grant somebody the authority to endanger another person’s life.
“I assume Nigeria is a constitutional democracy with the rule of law, as stated in its constitution.”