Nigerian Islamic cleric offers ₦1m bounty on Christian cleric, calls for beheading in viral video

An unidentified northern Islamic cleric has publicly offered a ₦1 million bounty for the killing of a Christian cleric, openly calling for his beheading in a video circulating widely on social media.

The footage, obtained by PMNews, shows the cleric holding wads of cash while urging members of the public to carry out the act. He also promises to increase the sum if ₦1 million is considered insufficient.

“I swear to God, I promise ₦1 million to whoever beheads this man,” the cleric says. “If the person who wants to cut off his head feels the money is too small, let them go ahead and do it, I will increase the money.”

In the same video, a visibly distressed woman condemned the threat and questioned the apparent inaction of security agencies, particularly the Department of State Services (DSS).

“Dearly beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, this is an Islamic cleric, a Muslim preacher, a mallam, preaching inside a mosque,” she said. “He is placing a ₦1 million bounty on the head of a Christian brother, asking anybody to kill him, cut off his head, and bring it to him.”

She compared the threat to the biblical story of John the Baptist, adding: “I don’t know what caused the issue between them, but he is always spewing hateful statements about Christians.”

The woman also criticized the cleric’s priorities, pointing out that while vulnerable children roam the streets in poverty, he is willing to spend large sums encouraging violence.

“Families are dying of hunger on the streets. He has not used ₦1 million to rehabilitate them. But he can bring out ₦1 million and say anyone who kills this Christian brother will get the money,” she said.

The Islamic cleric doubled down in a new video, insisting that anyone who carries out the act will receive the money, and warning of potential chaos in the Arewa region.

In the latest footage, the cleric declares:

“…whoever fulfills that requirement [beheading the pastor], I swear to Allah I’ll give him that money (one million naira), no retreat… we have nothing to lose if after beheading this pastor Arewa plunges into chaos…”

The video, circulating widely on social media, has intensified fears of religious violence and sectarian tensions.

As of filing this report, neither the DSS nor other relevant authorities have issued any statement regarding the incident.