A Christian group, Concerned Christian Youths, has issued a statement explaining its role in the arrest of fugitive former pastor Abraham Daniel, denying online claims that the arrest was made at the instance of a prominent religious leader.
James Paul Adama, the leader of the group, condemned the recent publications which he said falsely attributed the arrest to a respected man of God.
“Nothing can be farther from the truth,” Adama stated in the press release shared with journalists on Wednesday.
“We urge the public to disregard these malicious and misleading reports, which aim to divert attention from the truth.”
Adama clarified that the individuals arrested, who were involved in cyberbullying against Christian leaders in Nigeria, were taken into custody by Concerned Christian Youths, not by any religious figure.
“The arrests were made by us, and we invoked the relevant provisions of the law against cybercrimes,” he added.
The group cited the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015, as amended in 2024, which explicitly criminalizes cyberbullying.
According to the law, individuals who send false or harmful messages through computer networks can face imprisonment of up to 10 years.
“The activities of the arrested individuals were in violation of these provisions, making their arrest necessary,” Adama explained.
The Nigerian Police Force had, in December 2024, declared cyberbullying a criminal offense punishable by law, reinforcing the legal basis for the group’s actions.
Adama further stressed that any attempt to distort the facts surrounding the arrests would be strongly opposed.
“We will not hesitate to pursue further legal action against those spreading falsehoods,” he said.
The statement said with a firm declaration that the arrest was made by Concerned Christian Youths and not by any individual associated with religious leadership, as erroneously reported by some media outlets.
