Nigerian comedian Bovi has voiced his outrage against a Catholic priest who was recently caught on video slapping an altar boy for failing to hold a microphone steady during a wedding ceremony.
The incident sparked widespread anger among Nigerians, prompting discussions about the normalization of abusive behavior in various institutions.
The video shows the priest delivering a heavy knock to the boy’s head, an action that many deemed excessive and unjustifiable. Although the priest issued an apology, the boy’s family surprisingly defended him, claiming that there was nothing wrong with the priest’s actions.
Bovi took to Instagram to express his dismay, stating that such acts of abuse often go unchecked in Nigeria. He criticized the priest’s justification of the slap as a “normal correction” and highlighted the father’s comment that he would have blamed the priest if he hadn’t reacted. Bovi emphasized the harmful effects of such violence on the child’s confidence and self-esteem, questioning what more the priest might do if he couldn’t control his anger in public.
He remarked,
I’ve been trying to ignore this video like it never happened but after watching the apology video this morning, I’m more livid and miffed at the rate at which most forms of abuse go unchecked in Nigeria.”
The comedian underscored the seriousness of the situation, declaring, “Knocking a kid in the head unprovoked is a violent and criminal act.” He called on the Nigerian police to take action, urging them to invite the priest for questioning, as such behavior poses a threat to children and reflects poorly on society as a whole.
Bovi concluded with a poignant reflection on the implications of a priest using physical violence in a place meant for spiritual guidance. He warned,
In a society where a virgin priest who preaches the teachings of Jesus uses physical harm to convey his unprocessed emotions, there is bound to be doom. We’re probably in hell already.”
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