Nigerian Preacher Arrested in UK for Preaching the Gospel

A preacher suspected to be Nigerian was arrested in an unidentified street in the UK, as captured in a YouTube video dated July 17, 2022. The incident sparked public debate over the treatment of religious figures by law enforcement.

The preacher maintained that he was not engaging in any wrongdoing and continued to assert that he was merely preaching the gospel and distributing religious tracts. He claimed no anti-social behavior was involved in his actions.

As the situation unfolded, onlookers gathered, expressing their disapproval of the arrest, arguing that the police had no legal grounds to detain the preacher. They also raised concerns about the fairness of the action, suggesting racial bias might have played a role.

Law enforcement officers placed the preacher’s hands on his back and applied handcuffs, despite his protests that the restraints were causing him discomfort. He insisted that he had not committed any offense and was simply fulfilling his religious duties.

Some of the bystanders accused the police of racial profiling, claiming that a similar arrest would not have occurred if the individual involved had been white. They demanded accountability for the perceived injustice.

The preacher eventually provided his driver’s license to the officers, which included his personal details, after being encouraged by the crowd. The video documenting the incident abruptly ended at this point.

Similar incidents have occurred in the past, such as the arrest of Nigerian preacher Oluwole Ilesanmi in 2019, who was accused of a breach of the peace. His case drew significant public attention and led to a financial settlement for wrongful arrest, though no official apology was issued by the police.

Source: Read the original report