By Rasheed Abubakar
The TikTok sensation publicly announced in 2025 that he had left Islam for Christianity, yet some commentators are now associating him with Muslims following his controversial portrayal of Jesus Christ, raising questions about selective outrage and religious hypocrisy. Muslim News Nigeria reports>>>
The controversy surrounding Nigerian TikTok sensation Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, and his recent portrayal of Jesus Christ during a livestream has exposed another disturbing pattern in Nigeria’s religious conversations: the tendency of some people to drag Islam and Muslims into controversies involving individuals who have publicly distanced themselves from the religion.
What makes the latest development particularly questionable is that Peller’s religious background is not a secret. In July 2025, the popular content creator publicly announced that he had left Islam for Christianity.
During a widely publicised livestream, Peller reportedly declared, “I’m not a Muslim. I’m a Christian. I go to church.”
He attributed his decision to what he described as traumatic childhood experiences at a Quranic school, popularly called Ile Kewu, where he alleged that he was repeatedly beaten. His declaration attracted considerable attention, with some social media users celebrating his decision while others questioned the allegations against the traditional Quranic school system.
The question, therefore, is simple: Why are some people who celebrated his departure from Islam now describing him as a Muslim because of his controversial actions involving Jesus Christ?
From Christianity to traditional worship?
Before the latest controversy, Peller and his pregnant wife, Jarvis, had also sparked social media reactions after dressing up as a Catholic Reverend Father and Reverend Sister for Halloween on October 31, 2026. Their religious costumes attracted mixed reactions, with some social media users criticising the portrayal as disrespectful to Christian religious traditions. This incident came before Peller’s subsequent portrayal of Jesus Christ during a livestream, further intensifying the debate over the use of sacred religious figures and symbols for online entertainment.
The latest controversy followed Peller’s appearance in religious-themed clothing and a wig during a livestream, where he portrayed Jesus Christ. The act attracted criticism from Christians who considered it disrespectful to their faith.
A fellow TikTok creator, described as an Abu Dhabi-based Muslim, reportedly challenged Peller and cautioned him against using religious personalities and beliefs for online entertainment.
Interestingly, during their exchange, Peller reportedly described himself as a traditionalist who practises juju, rather than a Christian. This was despite his earlier public declaration that he had embraced Christianity after leaving Islam.
He subsequently apologised to Christians and made further statements identifying himself with Christianity, including references to attending Christ Apostolic Church.
These varying public descriptions make it even more important to establish what Peller actually says about his religious identity rather than conveniently labelling him a Muslim whenever his actions become controversial.
Why blame Islam for Peller’s actions?
What is particularly troubling is the attempt by some Islamophobes to turn a controversy involving Peller’s portrayal of Jesus Christ into an opportunity to attack Islam and Muslims.
If his actions offended Christians, why not address him directly and hold him accountable? Why drag Muslims into a controversy involving someone who publicly announced that he had left Islam for Christianity?
Some of the same people who reportedly applauded his 2025 declaration are now revisiting his Muslim background because of his latest controversial content.
This is selective outrage. A person’s religious identity should not become a convenient label that people apply or discard depending on which argument they want to win.
More importantly, the actions of an individual must not be used to malign an entire religious community. Muslims cannot be held responsible for the conduct of someone simply because he was born into a Muslim family or once practised Islam.
The recurring misinformation about leaving Islam
The controversy also brings back the recurring claim that people who leave Islam in Nigeria are automatically killed by other Muslims.
Peller publicly announced his departure from Islam in 2025. His declaration received widespread media attention, yet there was no credible report of Muslims killing him or murdering him because of that decision. The claim that leaving Islam automatically results in death is therefore not supported by Peller’s experience.
Similarly, social media jokes and claims suggesting that anyone who publicly announces a departure from Islam will inevitably be murdered should not be presented as established facts.
The episode involving another content creator, Yaya Gambari, who recently joked about leaving Islam before subsequently saying he was only joking because he feared the consequences, also illustrates how such narratives circulate without necessarily providing evidence of actual persecution.
Islam should not be misrepresented through rumours, jokes and unsubstantiated allegations.
Selective outrage must end
The Peller controversy should be an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the importance of consistency in defending religious beliefs.
Those condemning the portrayal of Jesus Christ should maintain the same position and energy when Muslims raise concerns about the mockery of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Qur’an, the hijab, Islamic prayers and other sacred elements of their faith.
It is contradictory to demand respect for Christianity while dismissing the concerns of Muslims whenever Islamic beliefs are ridiculed.
The Abu Dhabi-based Muslim TikToker who challenged Peller’s portrayal also deserves recognition for speaking out against religious provocation. However, some commentators have deliberately obscured his identity, referring to him vaguely as a “foreign guy” or “Peller’s fellow Muslim” rather than acknowledging him as an individual who stood up for religious respect. His intervention shows that people from different backgrounds can condemn religious disrespect without resorting to hostility.
Islam itself expressly warns against insulting the religious beliefs of others. Allah says in the Qur’an:
“And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge.” (Qur’an 6:108).
This instruction reinforces the need for Muslims to defend their faith with wisdom and good character while respecting what others hold sacred.
Whether the individual involved is a Muslim, Christian or traditional worshipper, nobody should turn religious personalities and symbols into tools for online engagement.
Our position
At Muslim News Nigeria, our position is clear.
First, Peller publicly announced in 2025 that he had left Islam for Christianity. His Muslim background does not make Muslims responsible for his subsequent actions. His later statements describing himself as a traditionalist and his subsequent identification with Christianity should equally be acknowledged.
Second, we pray that Allah guides Peller, grants him sound understanding and brings him back to Islam. We do not celebrate anyone’s departure from the faith. At the same time, we recognise that Islam continues to attract people across the world, including influential personalities who embrace the religion every day. This is a reminder of the faith’s growing global reach.
Third, we condemn the mockery of religious personalities and symbols, whether the target is Jesus Christ, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Mary (Maryam), the Qur’an, the Bible or any other sacred element of a person’s religion.
Finally, Nigerians must stop using the actions of individuals as an excuse to spread misinformation and promote hostility against entire religious communities.
Today, it is Jesus Christ. Tomorrow, it could be Mary, the mother of Jesus, or Prophet Muhammad, *the* best of mankind. The culture of turning sacred beliefs into online entertainment must not be encouraged.
Let us defend our faith, reject misinformation and uphold religious respect. Islam must not be dragged into every controversy simply because someone once identified as a Muslim.
By Abubakar Rasheed writes for Muslim News Nigeria. Email muslimnewsng@gmail.com
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