Tensions have escalated in Nigeria as an unnamed Islamic cleric doubled a bounty to N2 million for the beheading of Pastor Emmanuel Sunday Garba over alleged blasphemy, amid reports that the cleric remains at large despite public calls for his arrest.
“For those spreading misinformation that I have been arrested because I said, I have 1 million Naira for anybody who will cut off the head of that Pastor for Insulting the prophet, I’m still here”
I’m here to tell you that I’ve increased the money from 1 million to 2 Million” pic.twitter.com/JdUMadxTZb
— Arewa Source (@Arewa_Source) April 17, 2026
An unnamed Islamic cleric has sparked national outrage after doubling a bounty placed on the head of Pastor Emmanuel Sunday Garba, whom he accused of blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad. In a series of viral video publications, the cleric, speaking in Hausa, initially offered N1 million for the pastor’s beheading but recently increased the reward to N2 million, displaying stacks of cash to prove his resolve. Despite widespread public expectation that security agencies would move to apprehend him for inciting violence, the cleric released a follow-up video mocking rumors of his detention. “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. I’m here to tell you that I’ve increased the money from N1 million to N2 million,” he declared.
The escalating threats have reportedly forced Christian leaders to take emergency measures to protect Pastor Garba. Unconfirmed reports suggest that funds were pooled to fly the embattled pastor out of the country on Friday to escape the immediate danger. The situation has triggered a wave of condemnation from civil society and prominent Nigerians who are questioning the silence of the federal government and security apparatus. Critics argue that the open incitement to murder constitutes a direct challenge to the rule of law and the state’s monopoly on the use of force, yet no official statements or actions have been taken by federal authorities as of Saturday.
Prominent voices, including Sam Amadi, the former chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), have issued stern warnings to the government regarding the potential for religious unrest. Taking to his X page, Amadi cautioned that the state’s inaction could embolden further extremism and lead to a breakdown of order. “Warning to the Nigerian Government: There is a pastor said to have spoken something about a religion that is said to be ‘blasphemous’,” Amadi noted, joining a chorus of Nigerians demanding the immediate arrest of the cleric and other instigators of violence. The lack of an official response continues to fuel concerns over the government’s commitment to protecting citizens from extrajudicial religious “sentences.”
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