Viral JIBWIS Video Urging AK-47 Attacks in Enugu, Jos Sparks Security and Human Rights Investigation Calls
A viral video showing youths in uniforms associated with the First Aid Group of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) chanting for AK-47 rifles to attack people described as “infidels” in Enugu and Jos has triggered calls for an urgent investigation by security agencies and human rights advocates.
The footage, which circulated on social media on Monday, showed the participants engaging in marching drills while chanting statements that appeared to advocate violence against people in the two locations, including those attending church services on Sundays.
In the video, one of the participants was heard demanding an AK-47 and threatening to open fire on people in Enugu and Jos. The remarks have raised concerns about the potential incitement of religious violence and the exposure of young people to extremist rhetoric.
The National Chairman of JIBWIS, Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, condemned the statements and called on the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies to identify those involved and investigate the circumstances surrounding the footage.
The organisation also distanced itself from the chants, insisting that calls for violence and intimidation were inconsistent with its principles and teachings. Bala Lau cautioned that wearing the organisation’s First Aid Group uniform did not automatically establish that the individuals were acting with its authorisation.
“Wearing the uniform of the JIBWIS First Aid Group or appearing among its members does not automatically establish that an individual is acting on behalf of the organisation or with its authorisation,” the organisation stated.
Amnesty International Nigeria also called for an independent investigation, expressing particular concern about the presence of children and teenagers in the marching exercise. The human rights organisation said the slogans represented a disturbing exposure of minors to religious hatred and violent messaging.
“The slogans are a vicious display of children being manipulated and indoctrinated with violence and hatred,” Amnesty International said.
The organisation urged authorities to establish the identities of the organisers, determine where and when the video was recorded, and examine the messages and activities associated with the youth programme. It also called for appropriate psychological and educational support for children who may have been exposed to the rhetoric.
Amnesty International further raised concerns about safeguarding children from violence and harmful recruitment, referring to protections under the Child Rights Act and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The controversy highlights the need for a prompt, evidence-based investigation that distinguishes between the conduct of individuals and the responsibility of any organisation they may be associated with. Establishing the identities of those involved, verifying the footage’s origin and determining whether the threats were credible are essential steps in assessing the security implications without unfairly attributing alleged misconduct to an entire religious community.
As of the time of the report, the identities of the individuals in the footage and the circumstances surrounding its recording had not been independently verified. The alleged threats therefore remain subject to investigation, while calls for accountability and protection of vulnerable children continue.
