An unidentified Islamic cleric has caused a lot of anger by putting a N2 million bounty on the head of Pastor Emmanuel Sunday Garba for allegedly blasphemy.
The cleric, who first offered a N1 million reward in a viral video as seen by ENigeria Newspaper, later came back with a bigger offer and showed cash to back up his threat.
When he came back, he denied rumours that he had been arrested in a video that came out on Friday and made his comments even stronger.
The news has caused a lot of worry on social media, where many people had thought that security agencies would act quickly after the first video. However, the federal government and other relevant authorities have not yet made an official statement.
“For those spreading misinformation that I have been arrested because I said, I have N1 million for anybody who will cut off the head of that pastor for insulting the prophet, I’m still here”, he said in Hausa.
“I’m here to tell you that I’ve increased the money from N1 million to N2 million.”
Nigerians on X have asked the government to step in and arrest the cleric and other people who are causing violence, but the federal government has not made any official statements or taken any action.
@SamAmadi wrote, “There is a pastor said to have spoken something about a religion that is said to be ‘blasphemous’. Someone, a religious leader has placed a bounty on his head. He has promised N1m to whoever kills that pastor.This is a crime. This religious leader should be arrested and prosecuted.”
@VNwaifo – “Seeing this one is reminded of Nigeria’s mental heath crisis. Mental health in Nigeria is a significant public health crisis, with an estimated 20% to 25% of the population—roughly 40–50 million people—suffering from some form of mental disorder. Anyone calling for someone’s head is far from normal. He should be arrested and detained in a mental health facility for the foreseeable future so he gets the help he needs.”
@maaximums commented, “This is heading rapidly towards what we in America call a “FAFO” scenario. Don’t be surprised if you soon find yourself incinerated or in handcuffs on a military aircraft bound for America. Trump does things like that. Consider yourself warned.”
@Adewunmi wrote, “Nigeria is not really a place to live. There is no humanity. This idiot wouldn’t dare to say this Dubai or Qatar and still be under his roof for 24hrs. How does insulting one self acclaimed prophet warrant taking people’s life? Nigeria is really not meant to be together.”
@dyatlove1 also tweeted, “Such men might have 4 wives and 14 children at home. Wives are still fighting over bread to eat and children are lacking school books. But oh! He has 2M to pay to assassins! Yet the govt is foolishly silent.”
