The Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) has shared clergyman, Chibuzor Chinyere’s reaction to the explosive interview the late Deborah Samuel’s family granted them.
In the interview, the family of Deborah Samuel, who was lynched to death over alleged blasphemy at the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, cried out over the hardship they have been facing since relocating to Port Harcourt. Read here.
After the interview went viral, it is reported that the clergyman harassed Deborah’s father, Emmanuel Garba, by singling him out in church during a sermon to show his displeasure over the interview.
“The interview we gave, it has caused serious problems at OPM. Yesterday, he (Chinyere) called him outside inside the congregation and said that he heard everything. ‘Who interpreted it? Who interpreted that interview?’ He asked him. He (Garba) didn’t know the person, so he told him that he didn’t know the person. It seemed you brought the interpreter from your company, he told OPM.
L-R: Mariam, David, Emmanuel, James, Sarah holding Deborah’s portrait, and Alheri. Photo credit: Joseph Adeiye/FIJ
“The pastor said that if he (Garba) knew the interpreter, he should provide that interpreter. ‘Why would you do such a thing? Why would you appear for an interview with a journalist?’ The pastor asked. Now, some people are looking at me as if I did nothing for you.’ We had serious issues with him yesterday.” FIJ quoted its source as saying.
Despite his displeasure with the interview, FIJ reports that Apostle Chibuzor instructed Deborah’s family to leave their current apartment and move to the mini estate provided by the church.
The clergyman also arranged for a mechanic to attend to the faulty green Toyota Corolla that Garba was using as a taxi.
