Zamfara police arrest 22-year-old over viral video threatening Christians

The Zamfara State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old man, Umar Ibrahim Gandi, over a viral video allegedly exhibiting a bunch of younger folks chanting requires AK-47 rifles to assault Christians in Enugu and Jos, Plateau State.

The state Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Bello, disclosed the arrest whereas addressing journalists in Gusau on Tuesday, saying the command deployed intelligence sources to establish these concerned and set up the circumstances surrounding the footage. Blueprint reviews

The police recognized Gandi as a local of Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State and stated he was being investigated over alleged incitement to violence, disturbance of public peace and felony intimidation.

According to the police, preliminary findings indicated that the video was recorded on Friday, October 23, 2026. The suspect was reportedly on his solution to Aliyu Ibn Abi Thalib Mosque and was stated to have been concerned, alongside others, in offering safety throughout Friday prayers and preaching on the mosque.

The footage, which went viral on Monday, exhibits a younger man main a bunch of boys in marching drills whereas chanting in Hausa. A translation accompanying the video signifies that the chief requires AK-47 rifles to assault Christians in Enugu throughout Sunday worship earlier than continuing to Jos to kill extra folks described as unbelievers.

The individuals look like sporting uniforms related to the First Aid Group of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), popularly referred to as the Izala motion. However, the organisation has disputed the suggestion that the footage represents its authorised actions.

The police condemned conduct able to selling spiritual hatred and threatening public security, assuring residents of all faiths of their dedication to defending lives and property. The command stated investigations would set up the circumstances surrounding the recording and the alleged offences.

NCA calls for thorough investigation

The Northern Christian Association (NCA), via its chairman, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, referred to as on safety companies to analyze the video and set up the information surrounding the alleged threats.

Hayab described the chants as barbaric, shameful and a severe safety concern, warning that threats of religiously motivated violence shouldn’t be dismissed as atypical social media content material.

He urged the Department of State Services, the police and different related authorities to find out the place and when the video was recorded, establish these concerned and set up whether or not the statements had been precisely translated.

The NCA chairman pressured that the matter shouldn’t be lowered to a spiritual disagreement however handled as a possible safety menace requiring an expert investigation.

He additionally referred to as on spiritual leaders, dad and mom and establishments to advertise tolerance, self-discipline, respect for human life and peaceable coexistence amongst younger folks.

The affiliation maintained that no Nigerian ought to be threatened or intimidated due to their spiritual beliefs, urging authorities to make sure that anybody discovered culpable is handled in accordance with the regulation.

Amnesty International raises concern over kids

Amnesty International Nigeria additionally demanded a direct and unbiased investigation, expressing concern that kids and youngsters seemed to be taking part in marching drills led by an grownup.

The human rights organisation described the slogans as a disturbing show of kids being uncovered to hatred and violence.

It referred to as on safety companies to analyze the organisers of the train, set up the supply and placement of the footage, study the chants and assessment the messages being taught through the actions.

Amnesty additional urged authorities to guard the kids concerned and supply applicable psychological and academic help the place crucial, whereas making certain that anybody discovered liable for selling violence and spiritual intolerance is held accountable.

The organisation cited protections below the Child Rights Act and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, warning towards exposing minors to hateful rhetoric, militarised drills and extremist indoctrination.

The intervention broadened the controversy past the alleged threats towards Christians to incorporate the accountability of adults and establishments to guard kids from messages encouraging violence towards folks of different faiths.

JIBWIS disowns video, requires prosecution

The nationwide chairman of JIBWIS, Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, condemned the statements within the footage and referred to as on the DSS, police and different safety companies to establish these accountable.

In an announcement, Bala Lau stated the alleged threats and inflammatory remarks have been opposite to the organisation’s ideas, teachings and aims.

He cautioned towards concluding that the folks within the video have been appearing on behalf of JIBWIS just because they appeared in uniforms related to its First Aid Group.

The chairman stated sporting the uniform or showing alongside members of the group didn’t routinely set up that a person was formally representing the organisation or had its authorisation.

Bala Lau additionally expressed concern that the incident might be an try to misrepresent JIBWIS and injury its status. He pointed to the organisation’s latest worldwide convention in Abuja, which introduced collectively Christian leaders, Muslim students and different individuals to advertise interfaith dialogue and peaceable coexistence.

A faction of JIBWIS led by Sheikh Yahaya Jingir additionally condemned the video. Its Chairman of Internet Operations, Mallam Ibrahim Maina, informed The PUNCH that the faction was sad with the event and didn’t help threats towards folks of different faiths.

Maina stated he had heard that the footage may need been recorded round 2020, though that declare had not been independently verified.

Lere Olayinka, different Nigerians react

The video additionally attracted a robust response from Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who referred to as the eye of the DSS and police to the footage.

Olayinka shared a translation of the chants attributed to the group’s chief and urged safety companies to analyze the alleged threats.

The translation advised that the speaker was demanding an AK-47 rifle to assault folks in Enugu throughout Sunday worship and subsequently journey to Jos to kill extra folks described as unbelievers.

The footage triggered widespread condemnation throughout spiritual and ethnic traces, with Nigerians calling for the identification and prosecution of anybody discovered accountable.

Some commentators expressed concern about the potential of kids being uncovered to violent spiritual rhetoric, whereas others cautioned towards attributing the alleged conduct of people to a whole spiritual group.

The controversy has additionally renewed requires spiritual leaders to talk out towards incitement and cooperate with safety companies investigating threats towards Nigerians on account of their religion.

Questions stay over circumstances of recording

Although the police have introduced an arrest, a number of questions surrounding the video stay central to the investigation, together with the roles of different individuals, the circumstances wherein the chants have been recorded and whether or not the exercise was authorised by any organisation.

The declare that the footage was recorded in 2020 had circulated earlier than the police commissioner reportedly stated preliminary findings positioned the recording on October 23, 2026. The discrepancy underscores the necessity for the authorities to determine the video’s origin and timeline via proof.

The police investigation is anticipated to make clear the suspect’s alleged function, establish another individuals concerned and decide whether or not offences have been dedicated.

For the NCA, Amnesty International and JIBWIS management, the precedence is to determine the reality and guarantee accountability with out permitting the incident to deepen spiritual suspicion or provoke retaliatory hostility.

The arrest marks a big growth within the response to the viral footage, however the last accountability of the authorities shall be to determine the information and make sure that any prosecution is supported by proof and carried out in accordance with the regulation.