KADUNA, Nigeria —* Idibia Gabriel, a Christian journalist reporting for Daybreak Newspapers, is in hiding in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria, fearing for his life after reposting a video featuring the son of Palestine’s Hamas leader criticizing violence within Islamist groups.
Gabriel faced accusations of blasphemy and received threats from Muslim journalists in a WhatsApp group discussion. The video, titled “Son of Hamas Expose Muhammad,” triggered outrage among some members, leading to demands for his removal and penalties.
Earlier, on September 26, 2023, Gabriel was arrested and detained briefly by police for his report on the poor conditions at Mando Hajj camp, Kaduna state. Tensions escalated within the journalists’ forum over his reposting of the controversial video.
The incident has sparked concerns about freedom of speech and religious tolerance in Nigeria, reminiscent of a past tragedy where a Christian student, Deborah Samuel, was brutally attacked over blasphemy accusations, highlighting the urgent need for justice in such cases.
