A deeply emotional testimony by a man named Martins, who was wrongfully imprisoned, has ignited a profound response from Nigerian celebrities and the online community. Shared during a program at Living Faith Church, also known as Winners, Martins recounted his harrowing experience of being unjustly incarcerated for a crime he did not commit.
Martins explained that he was returning from a football match in 2009 when police officers forcibly arrested him for a crime he had no involvement in. Accused of robbery and murder, he was imprisoned for an agonizing ten years before he was eventually released in 2021 with the help of the Justice, Development, and Peace Commission (JDPC).
The moving testimony drew reactions from both celebrities and the public, with many expressing empathy and outrage at the injustice Martins endured. Shaffy Bello, Helen Paul, Warri Pikin, and Woli Arole were among the celebrities who reacted, with some even shedding tears on his behalf.
Woli Arole wrote, “Thank God for freedom.” Shaffy Bello expressed her shock with a simple “Jesus!” Helen Paul pleaded, “God have mercy.”
Netizens also chimed in, sharing their own thoughts and experiences related to unjust arrests and the challenges of the Nigerian justice system. The reactions ranged from sympathy for Martins to calls for police reform and accountability.
