Zamfara Police Arrest 22-Year-Old Over Viral Video Allegedly Threatening Christians

The Zamfara State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old man, identified as Umar Ibrahim Gandi Maradun, over a viral video allegedly containing threats of violence against Christians in Enugu and Plateau states.

The Nigeria Police Force confirmed the arrest on Tuesday, October 27, following public outrage over footage circulating on social media showing a young man leading a group of youths in marching drills while chanting statements that reportedly called for the use of AK-47 rifles to attack Christians.

According to the police, the suspect is from Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State. He was handed over to the authorities following the intervention of the leadership of Jama’atu Izalatil Bidi’a Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), whose First Aid Group uniform appeared in the footage.

Force Public Relations Officer Ani Iniedu said the Zamfara State Police Command had activated its intelligence resources to identify those involved and investigate the circumstances surrounding the recording.

The police said the organisation’s leadership at the national and state levels had distanced itself from the alleged conduct.

The suspect is being investigated over statements allegedly capable of inciting religious violence, threatening public peace and undermining peaceful coexistence.

Police Begin Investigation

Zamfara State Commissioner of Police Ahmad Bello said preliminary findings indicated that the video was recorded on Friday, October 23, 2026.

According to the police account, Maradun and the other youths were reportedly on their way to Aliyu Ibn Abi Thalib Mosque, where they were said to have provided security during Friday prayers and preaching.

The police identified Nurul Islam Islamiyya and Akidatul Sahiha Islamiyya as the two Islamic schools whose pupils were reportedly seen in the footage. Both schools are located in Maradun Local Government Area.

The command said its investigation would establish the circumstances surrounding the recording and identify others who may have been involved.

Bello said the suspect could face charges relating to alleged incitement to violence, disturbance of public peace and criminal intimidation under applicable provisions of Zamfara State law, subject to the outcome of the investigation.

The police have not announced a conviction, and the allegations against the suspect remain subject to investigation and due legal process.

JIBWIS Distances Itself From the Video

The incident has also drawn a response from JIBWIS leadership, which condemned the alleged threats and called for an investigation.

The organisation’s National Chairman, Sheikh Abdullahi Bala-Lau, said the statements attributed to the group in the video were inconsistent with its principles and objectives.

He urged the police and other security agencies to establish the identities of those involved and ensure that anyone found culpable was dealt with in accordance with the law.

Bala-Lau also cautioned that wearing the organisation’s First Aid Group uniform or appearing alongside its members did not, by itself, establish that an individual was authorised to speak or act on its behalf.

The video also prompted calls for an independent investigation from Amnesty International, which expressed concern about the apparent exposure of children and teenagers to language promoting religious hatred and violence.

The human rights organisation called on the authorities to investigate the footage, establish where and when it was recorded, identify those responsible for organising the activity and protect any minors involved.

Questions Remain About the Footage

Although the police have identified and arrested a suspect, questions remain about the full circumstances of the recording and the identities and roles of everyone seen in the video.

A PRNigeria fact-check published on October 27 found no indication that the footage was generated using artificial intelligence. However, it said it could not establish that the individuals featured were members of JIBWIS’s volunteer First Aid Group.

The question of when the video was originally recorded has also attracted attention. While the Zamfara police said preliminary findings placed the recording on October 23, a separate account attributed to a JIBWIS faction suggested that the footage might be older. That alternative date has not been independently confirmed.

The distinction is important because the date, location, identities of participants and context of the recording are all relevant to a thorough investigation.

The police have urged Nigerians to remain calm and avoid circulating the footage or unverified claims in ways that could heighten religious tensions.

The Force reiterated its commitment to protecting citizens regardless of religious affiliation and said lawful action would be taken against anyone found responsible for conduct that incites violence or threatens public order.