“Thieves in Sacred Robes: Mahdi Shehu Slams Hypocrisy in Places of Worship”

Renowned social critic and popular X (formerly Twitter) user, Mahdi Shehu, has once again stirred public discourse with a blistering post on his verified handle, calling out what he describes as the growing culture of moral decay within religious institutions.

In a post that has since sparked waves of online debate, Shehu lamented how churches and mosques—traditionally regarded as bastions of virtue—have now become sanctuaries for looters of the public treasury.

> “When you go to the church or mosque for prayers,” Shehu wrote, “you pray along with thieves who have emptied the public treasury. You end up admiring them when the presiding priest or imam praise-sings, eulogizes, and thanks them for their so-called ‘good work’.”

His words cut deep into the fabric of contemporary religious practice, where stolen wealth is often cloaked in garments of piety and accepted without scrutiny. Shehu warned that this normalization of corruption in religious circles subtly shifts the collective consciousness of worshippers.

> “This will surely change your prayer to that of seeking God to help you join them and be like them. Such is the prayer pattern these days,” he added, in a tone both sarcastic and sobering.

He further criticized the culture of passive resistance among Nigerians, stressing that while prayers are offered daily against the scourge of corruption, they are rarely followed by meaningful civic action.

> “We have prayed enough against the rogues in our midst,” Shehu declared. “But we refuse to follow our prayers with actionable steps.”



Mahdi Shehu’s post is not just a social media rant—it is a scathing indictment of a society where spiritual leaders and worshippers alike often turn a blind eye to the origins of wealth, provided it is offered with reverence and wrapped in philanthropy.

As the nation continues to grapple with endemic corruption and dwindling moral standards, his words pose an uncomfortable yet necessary question: How long will Nigerians pray with their eyes closed and their conscience sealed?