Popular Nollywood actress Kemi Afolabi has weighed in on the growing controversy surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s recent presidential pardon for convicted criminals, including murderers and drug traffickers.
According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Information, 175 convicts benefited from the clemency — among them 28 drug traffickers, 41 illegal miners, and 22 murderers.
The decision has sparked widespread criticism from citizens, advocacy groups, and public figures, many of whom have called for the reversal of the pardon.
Reacting via her Instagram story, Afolabi advised Nigerians to prioritize their safety and avoid toxic relationships that could endanger their lives.
“Do not allow anyone to take your life, guard it with all your being. Be it in marriage, friendship, courtship, or any kind of relationship,” she wrote.
Her remarks came shortly after the family of the late Bilyaminu Ahmed publicly condemned the inclusion of Maryam Sanda, convicted for Bilyaminu’s 2017 murder, among those reportedly pardoned.
Sanda was sentenced to death by hanging in January 2020 after being found guilty of killing her husband during a domestic dispute.
Afolabi’s reaction adds to the rising wave of outrage online, as many Nigerians question the rationale behind granting freedom to individuals convicted of serious crimes.
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