KANO, NIGERIA — Security agencies have launched a massive manhunt for a prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Isa, following his public declaration of a ₦2 million bounty for the beheading of a Christian cleric, Pastor Samuel.
The Department of State Services (DSS) reportedly moved against the cleric after a series of viral videos showed him displaying stacks of cash and inciting followers to carry out the extrajudicial killing over alleged blasphemy.
Bank Accounts Frozen
Intelligence sources indicate that at least two bank accounts linked to the Sheikh have been frozen by the authorities to cut off the funding for the promised reward. The cleric, in a defiant follow-up video, confirmed the freezing of his assets but maintained that his resolve remained unshaken.
“They have frozen my accounts, and the DSS is looking for me with armed men,” the Sheikh stated in his latest broadcast. Despite the mounting legal pressure, he insisted the bounty remains active, demanding the prior arrest of the pastor he accused of insulting Islamic tenets.
Outcry Over Incitement
The development has sparked a firestorm of condemnation from civil society groups and religious leaders across the country. The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the North, Joseph John Hayab, called on the Federal Government to act swiftly to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
“Nigeria is a country governed by laws, not by the whims of individuals inciting religious war,” Hayab said. “The silence of the authorities in the face of such a brazen threat is dangerous for our national unity.”
Similarly, legal experts have pointed out that the cleric’s actions constitute a direct violation of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and the Cybercrimes Act, which criminalize the solicitation of murder and the dissemination of hate speech.
Security on High Alert
While the DSS has not issued a formal statement on the progress of the search, security personnel have reportedly been deployed to strategic locations in Kano and neighboring states to prevent any potential religious skirmishes.
The targeted cleric, Pastor Samuel, who is based in Gombe State, has reportedly been moved to a secure, undisclosed location by security operatives as the search for Sheikh Sani Isa continues.
