Comedian Bovi, known for his sharp wit and humorous takes on everyday life, has taken a strong stand against an unsettling incident involving a Catholic priest and an altar boy.
The event, which has been circulating widely on social media, shows a priest slapping the young boy in the middle of a wedding ceremony, all because the boy failed to steady the microphone. This single act of violence, caught on video, has drawn the attention of many Nigerians, sparking debates about the treatment of young people and unchecked abuse by authority figures in the country.
Bovi, taking to his Instagram page, voiced his anger and disappointment, not only with the action of the priest but with the overall culture of unchecked abuse in Nigeria expressing how hard it was to ignore the video. He shared how he tried to brush it off and move on, but after watching the priest’s apology video, his frustration only deepened.
What particularly angered Bovi was how the priest downplayed the incident. According to the comedian, the priest’s apology was riddled with terms like “normal correction” and “minor correction.” Bovi was quick to call out this kind of language, pointing out that it is this very mindset that allows abuse to continue under the guise of discipline. To him, there was nothing “minor” about the slap, and he questioned the idea that such behavior could be classified as a form of “correction.”
In Bovi’s words, “I’ve been trying to ignore this video like it never happened, but after watching the apology video this morning, I’m more livid and miffed at the rate at which most forms of abuse go unchecked in Nigeria.” His post reflected a deeper frustration with the normalcy of violence, especially towards children, in various institutions across the country.
The video of the incident, which has now gone viral, shows a scene that many found difficult to watch. The wedding ceremony was in full swing when the altar boy, tasked with holding the microphone, fumbled. Instead of helping or correcting the child gently, the priest, visibly irritated, raised his hand and slapped the boy across the face. The shock from those present was evident, but what’s even more disturbing is the fact that many people still try to justify such actions in the name of “discipline.”
