Christian convert faces death threats following religious conversion

A former Muslim leader, Mr Daniel Hussaini Christopher, is facing death threat after a brutal attack reportedly linked to his conversion to Christianity.

His residence was set ablaze in a violent assault that left at least nine people dead, seven women and two children, raising alarm over religious intolerance and extremist violence in some parts of Nigeria.

The attack has been associated with the militant Islamist group Boko Haram, which openly denounced Mr Christopher’s conversion.

In an interview granted to journalists, representatives of the group reiterated their belief that renouncing Islam is an unforgivable offence, insisting that it carries fatal consequences.

Mr Aziz Momoh, a prominent Muslim leader, echoed this sentiment, declaring that Islam prescribes the death penalty for apostasy.

“Any Muslim who jettisons the religion for another faces death,” he stated, citing Sahih Bukhari 52:266: “If someone deserts Islam, he should face the death penalty.”

Similarly, Mr Mudashiru, head of the Islamic Council in Nasarawa State, condemned religious defection and referenced Qur’an 4:89, which says, “If they turn renegade, seize them and slay them wherever you find them.”

The incident has sparked outrage among human rights activists and religious freedom advocates, who warn that such violent interpretations of religious texts fuel persecution and deepen national insecurity.

Authorities are yet to confirm the whereabouts of Mr Christopher, as investigations continue.