Zamfara man arrested over a viral video allegedly calling for attacks on Christians as police investigate incitement and threats to public peace
A 22-year-old man, Umar Ibrahim Gandi Maradun, has been arrested in Zamfara State over a viral video allegedly showing youths calling for weapons to attack Christians in Enugu and Plateau states.
The Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, A.M. Bello, announced the arrest at a press briefing in Gusau on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, saying the police had commenced a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
The video, which circulated widely on social media, reportedly showed Maradun wearing the uniform of the First Aid Group of Jama’atu Izalatil Bidi’a Wa’ikamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), alongside other youths during a procession.
According to the police commissioner, the footage contained chants allegedly calling for rifles to kill Christians, alongside threats directed at communities in Enugu and Plateau states.
The recording sparked condemnation from religious leaders and renewed calls for security agencies to investigate those involved in the alleged incitement.
Bello said preliminary findings indicated that the video was recorded on Friday, October 23, while the suspect was reportedly on his way to Aliyu Ibn Abi Thalib Mosque.
The commissioner explained that Maradun and others were said to have provided security during Friday prayers and preaching.
He added that the suspect appeared alongside pupils from two Islamic schools in Maradun Local Government Area: Nurul Islam Islamiya and Akidatul Sahiha Islamiya.
The schools are located approximately 120 kilometres from Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.
Following the emergence of the footage, the police said they deployed intelligence resources to identify those involved and establish the circumstances surrounding the recording.
The command also contacted JIBWIS leadership at both national and state levels as part of its investigation.
According to Bello, the organisation subsequently apprehended Maradun and handed him over to the Zamfara State Police Command for further investigation.
The commissioner identified the suspect as a Nigerian citizen and indigene of Maradun Local Government Area, born on September 15, 2004.
He said preliminary information showed that Maradun attended Mualledi Model Primary School and Government Day Secondary School, both in Maradun.
The suspect reportedly joined JIBWIS in 2025 and had recently gained admission to study for a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication at Zamfara State University, Talata Mafara.
Bello said the police would charge Maradun before a court of competent jurisdiction after concluding their investigation, should the evidence support the allegations.
The proposed charges relate to alleged incitement to violence, disturbance of public peace and criminal intimidation.
The commissioner cited Sections 77, 78 and 380(b) of the Penal Code Law applicable in Zamfara State in outlining the legal provisions under consideration.
He emphasised that the police would pursue the matter in accordance with the available evidence and applicable law.
The command also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigerians of all religious affiliations and safeguarding their constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
Bello condemned conduct capable of promoting religious hatred, threatening communities or undermining peaceful coexistence.
He urged religious leaders, parents, guardians, school authorities and community stakeholders to encourage tolerance, mutual respect and responsible behaviour among young people.
The commissioner also appealed to members of the public to remain calm, avoid circulating unverified information and refrain from actions that could heighten religious tension or disrupt public order.
Meanwhile, the National Chairman of JIBWIS, Abdullahi Bala-Lau, condemned the alleged incitement and called on the police, the Department of State Services and other security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation.
Bala-Lau said calls for violence were contrary to the teachings and objectives of the organisation.
He stressed that wearing the group’s First Aid Group uniform or appearing alongside its members did not automatically confer the authority to speak on behalf of JIBWIS.
The chairman also expressed concern that the video might have been intended to damage the organisation’s reputation and worsen religious tensions in the country.
He pointed to JIBWIS’s interfaith engagement initiatives, including an international conference in Abuja attended by Christian leaders, Islamic scholars and international delegates, as evidence of its efforts to promote religious tolerance.
The police said investigations were continuing, with the command reiterating its determination to protect lives and property, uphold the law and maintain peace across Zamfara State.
The suspect’s arrest comes amid calls for accountability over the alleged threats, with the authorities expected to establish the full circumstances surrounding the video and determine whether the evidence warrants prosecution.
