Some pastors hailed him as courageous, while others branded him divisive.
Nigerians are sharply divided over the assassination of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
While pastors and gospel singers praised the 31-year-old commentator for his convictions, others described him as a symbol of divisive politics. Kirk was shot in the neck on September 10 while addressing an audience at Utah Valley University during a tour organised by Turning Point USA, which he co-founded.
Gospel singer Nathaniel Bassey wrote on Instagram, “Pained. Rest in the Lord, Charlie Kirk.” Fellow singer Victoria Orenze called him a “true soldier of Christ,” adding, “Truth cannot be killed! Truth cannot be silenced! Truth cannot be stopped.” Pastor Blessed Uzochikwa also paid tribute, describing Kirk as “a man of conviction, courage, and dignity who never wavered in his beliefs.”
But critics accused church leaders of hypocrisy, questioning why such public grief was rarely shown for Nigerians killed in bandit and terrorist attacks. “Many Nigerian pastors kept silent about the slaughter of Nigerian Christians… but you have deep tears for a man in a faraway land,” one X user wrote.
British-Nigerian student George Abaraonye, president-elect of the Oxford Union, drew outrage after mocking Kirk’s death online before deleting his post. Oxford Union officials condemned his remarks.
Writer Ikhide Ikheloa described Kirk as a “bigot” who embodied white privilege, but stressed, “Charlie Kirk did not deserve to die, despite his bigoted self.”
The polarising reactions highlight a broader debate on faith, race, and priorities among Nigerians engaging global events.