By Emmanuel Ogbodo
Mubarak Bala, a self-proclaimed atheist and former president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, has raised concerns about his safety following his release from prison.
Bala was arrested on April 28, 2020, at his home in Kaduna and transferred to Kano, where he was charged with blasphemy and incitement, accused of breaching public peace and provoking outrage among Muslims.
In 2022, a Kano State High Court sentenced him to 24 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to 18 counts, including blasphemy and incitement.
He had already spent two years in detention before the sentencing. However, an appellate court later reduced his sentence, calling the original term excessive.
Speaking with the BBC on Tuesday, Bala revealed that he is now in a secure location due to persistent threats against his life.
“The freedom is here, but there is an underlying threat that I now have to face.
“All those years, those threats were probably out there while I was under the security system. My safety remains a concern,” he said.
When asked about his guilty plea in 2022, Bala stated that it was a protective measure to safeguard himself and others involved in the case.
His imprisonment drew international condemnation, with human rights organizations criticizing Nigeria’s commitment to freedom of expression and urging authorities to ensure his safety.
