A former chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Sam Amadi, has demanded the arrest of a cleric calling for the beheading of a Christian clergy.
PrimeTimes Nigeria understands that a viral video had shown a Northern Islamic cleric calling for the killing of the pastor for allegedly insulting the holy Prophet.
The Islamic clergy also placed a ₦1 million bounty on the alleged blasphemer, flaunting some cash in the viral video, which he promised to give to the killer when the job is done.
The disturbing footage drew the attention of social media users, raising fears over the potential escalation of religious tensions, particularly in the Northern part of the country.
Reacting, in a post on 𝕏 on Thursday, Amadi called for the arrest of the violence instigator, stating that “Nigeria is a constitutional democracy, not a theocracy.
He wrote, “Warning to the Nigerian Government: 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 ₦1m to whoever kills that pastor.
“This is a crime. This religious leader should be arrested and prosecuted.
“Furthermore, the Nigerian government ought to protect the pastor accused of blasphemy.
“For avoidance of doubt, blasphemy is not, cannot be a crime in Nigeria. Speaking against a prophet or any religious symbol does not give any person the right to threaten the life of another person.
“I am assuming Nigeria is a rule of law, constitutional democracy as it’s constitution says it is.”