https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/articles/c4gln8nlmz4o

Nigerian atheist wey dem just free afta serving more dan four years in prison for blasphemy, dey live for one safe house as im legal team dey fear say im life fit dey in danger.

Dem convict 40-year-old, Mubarak Bala for one court in di northern city of Kano afta, e plead guilty to 18 charges relating to one Facebook post wey cause gbas-gbos in 2020.

"Di concern about my safety dey always dey dia," e tell di BBC for exclusive interview as e dey chop im first meal as free man.

Nigeria na deeply religious society and pipo wey insult religion - weda Islam or Christianity – dey face discrimination.

Blasphemy na offence under Islamic law – Sharia - wey dey operate alongside secular law for 12 states in di north. Na also offence under Nigeria criminal law.

Bala, wey renounce Islam in 2014, say e get times during im imprisonment wey im feel say "e fit no come out alive".

E fear say guards or fellow inmates fit dey target am for di first prison e dey for Kano, mainly Muslim city.

"Freedom dey hia, but some kain threat still dey wey I dey face," e tok. "All dis years, di threats, e fit dey out dia."

E fit dey inside prison for much longer if no be appeal court judgement wey reduce di initial 24-year sentence last year, describing di sentence as "excessive".

Bala look tired as e waka comot from prison for di capital city Abuja, but e dey cheerful as e wear white T-shirt, khaki shorts and slippers. E come out wit im lawyer by im side.

"Evri tin dey new to me. Evri tin dey new," E tok as im embrace im freedom.

Bala, na bold religious critic, wey dem arrest afta one group of lawyers file complaint wit di police about di social media post.

E den spend two years for prison awaiting trial bifor dem convict am in 2022.

At di time Bala guilty plea shock many, even im legal team, but e stand by im decision, saying e go relieve di pressure on di pipo wey stand for im side, including im lawyers, friends and family.

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Nigerian atheist free from prison but e still dey fear for im life