A cleric and socio-political commentator, Rev. Tony Uzor, has criticised what he described as a contradiction in Nigeria’s approach to terrorism and justice, following reports of mass killings in parts of Kwara State and the continued incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
In a commentary circulated on Tuesday, Uzor questioned why violent attacks resulting in large civilian casualties allegedly attract limited national outrage, while Kanu, whom he described as a non-violent agitator, remains imprisoned on terrorism charges.
The cleric cited reports of attacks in Woro and Nuku communities in Kwara State, where gunmen reportedly killed scores of residents during coordinated raids on rural settlements. According to the reports referenced, homes were destroyed and residents killed for allegedly resisting extremist demands, prompting a later deployment of security forces by the Federal Government.
Uzor argued that the response to the Kwara killings contrasted sharply with the intensity of state action against Kanu, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in November 2025 by the Federal High Court in Abuja on terrorism-related charges linked to his broadcasts and separatist agitation.
Criticism of Media and State Response
The cleric alleged that the killings in Kwara received comparatively limited national media coverage and public outrage, while issues relating to IPOB, sit-at-home orders, and Biafra agitation often dominate headlines.
According to him, violent actors responsible for mass casualties are frequently described with restraint or bureaucratic language, while dissenting voices are subjected to swift prosecution and severe punishment.
He further argued that Kanu had, over the years, warned about the spread of armed extremism into southern Nigeria, including parts of the South-West, and suggested that recent attacks in Kwara reflected those concerns.
Conviction and Detention of Kanu
Kanu was convicted by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court on multiple terrorism-related counts and sentenced to life imprisonment, with all sentences ordered to run concurrently. He is currently being held at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.
Uzor described the conviction as an example of what he called a “moral inversion,” arguing that speech and political agitation are punished more severely than acts of mass violence. He questioned whether Nigeria’s justice system places greater emphasis on suppressing dissent than on preventing or responding decisively to large-scale killings.
Broader Moral Argument
The cleric also criticised what he described as selective moral outrage and urged Nigerians to reflect on national priorities, particularly the balance between security, free expression, and the protection of lives.
According to Uzor, a society that tolerates mass killings while harshly penalising speech risks eroding public trust in justice and governance.
The Federal Government and Kwara State authorities have not officially responded to the specific claims raised in the commentary.
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