Nollywood actor Gideon Okeke has sparked a debate online after questioning why cattle herders in Nigeria are permitted to carry weapons such as machetes and cutlasses. At the same time, pastors and other citizens are prohibited from doing so.
Taking to his Instagram page, Okeke posed the thought-provoking question following public outrage over a viral video involving Lagos-based cleric Pastor Paul Adefarasin. The pastor was accused of brandishing a weapon at a content creator who was filming his convoy in Lagos.
Okeke wrote:
“Why is it that Fulani cattle herders are allowed to carry machetes and cutlasses, but pastors and other citizens cannot? Are we not all equal under the law?”
His post has since generated mixed reactions, with some social media users supporting his call for clarity on the issue of self-defense rights. In contrast, others criticized the comparison, arguing that herders carry such tools as work equipment, not weapons.
The controversy arises amid broader national discussions on security, self-defense rights, and the responsibilities of religious leaders in public spaces.
