A Catholic priest, Kelvin Ugwu, has expressed anger and frustration over what he described as selective justice in Nigeria, following reports that an Islamic cleric allegedly placed a monetary bounty on a pastor over claims of blasphemy.
In a strongly worded reaction, the priest criticised the situation where the cleric reportedly announced a ₦1 million reward for anyone who would kill the pastor, later increasing it to ₦2 million, and allegedly remained unarrested days after making the statement.
Fr. Ugwu drew parallels with the 2022 killing of Deborah Yakubu, a student who was attacked and killed by her classmates in Sokoto over allegations of blasphemy. He lamented that despite arrests made at the time, the case appeared to have faded without accountability.
According to him, the fact that dozens of lawyers reportedly appeared in court to defend suspects linked to Deborah’s killing, while recent threats to another individual’s life are yet to attract swift action, raises serious concerns about justice and equality before the law.
“It was students who killed Deborah… they recorded the whole scene,” he wrote, questioning how such incidents could occur without lasting consequences.
He further criticised what he perceives as a pattern where threats and acts of violence tied to religious sensitivities are not adequately addressed, stating that the situation undermines public confidence in the justice system.
The priest’s comments have since sparked conversations online about religious tolerance, rule of law, and the responsibilities of authorities in handling incitement and threats to life.
As of the time of reporting, there has been no official statement from law enforcement authorities regarding the alleged bounty or any arrest linked to the incident.
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