Amnesty International and JIBWIS Leaders Call for Probe into Viral Video Allegedly Threatening Christians

Amnesty International Nigeria and leaders of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) have called for an investigation into a viral video allegedly showing young people chanting threats of violence against Christians in Enugu State and Jos, Plateau State.

The footage, which circulated on social media, has raised concerns about religious intolerance, the safety of worshippers and the exposure of children and teenagers to violent rhetoric. The calls for an investigation have also highlighted the need to establish who participated in the activity, where and when it was recorded, and whether anyone organised or authorised it.

According to reports published by Nigerian media on October 26 and 27, the video shows a man leading a group of boys in marching drills while chants, translated as calls for assault rifles to attack Christians during Sunday worship, can be heard. Some participants appear to be wearing uniforms associated with the JIBWIS First Aid Group, commonly known as ’Yan Agaji.

However, the appearance of an organisation’s uniform in a video does not, by itself, establish that the people involved were acting under its authority. The identities of those shown and the circumstances surrounding the recording have not been independently established in the reports reviewed for this article.

Amnesty International Nigeria has urged the authorities to investigate the video, identify those responsible and examine the circumstances in which the chants were made.

The human rights organisation expressed concern about the apparent involvement of children and young people in language promoting religious hatred and violence. It called for scrutiny of the organisers of the activity and the programmes in which the young participants were involved.

The organisation also stressed the importance of protecting children from exposure to hateful rhetoric and activities that could encourage violence. Where minors may have been exploited or exposed to harmful influences, any response should consider their protection and welfare as well as the need to establish accountability.

The investigation, according to the concerns raised by the organisation, should examine the source and location of the footage, the identities and roles of those involved, and whether the activity formed part of an organised programme.

JIBWIS National Chairman Sheikh Abdullahi Bala-Lau has condemned the statements attributed to participants in the video and called on the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant agencies to investigate the incident.

In its response, the organisation said the alleged calls for violence were inconsistent with its principles and teachings. Bala-Lau also cautioned against assuming that individuals were officially representing JIBWIS simply because they appeared in clothing associated with its First Aid Group.

The organisation called for the identities of those involved and the circumstances of the recording to be established, adding that anyone found responsible should be dealt with in accordance with the law.

A separate JIBWIS faction led by Sheikh Yahaya Jingir also reportedly condemned the footage. A representative of that faction said the alleged conduct was unacceptable, while making claims about the affiliation of those shown. Those claims, like other questions surrounding the video, require independent verification.

The responses from JIBWIS leadership are significant to the inquiry, but they do not resolve the outstanding questions about who appears in the footage, when it was made or whether the activity was authorised by any group.

The reported threats have prompted calls for the police, the Department of State Services and other relevant authorities to assess the credibility of the statements and determine whether they amount to criminal incitement or another offence under Nigerian law.

A thorough investigation would need to authenticate the footage, establish its original source, verify the translation of the Hausa-language chants and determine the identities and ages of those involved. Investigators would also need to establish the recording’s location and date rather than assume that the video is recent or that the activity took place in the locations mentioned in the chants.

Authorities should also assess whether any individuals encouraged, organised or facilitated the activity and whether specific communities or places of worship face a credible threat. Any action should be based on evidence and follow due process.

As of the reports reviewed for this article, the precise identities of the participants and the circumstances surrounding the recording had not been independently verified. A claim circulating in media reports that the video may have been recorded years earlier also remained unconfirmed.

The incident has renewed attention to the responsibility of religious, community and educational leaders to reject messages that portray people of other faiths as enemies or encourage violence against them.

Nigeria is home to diverse religious communities. Threats against worshippers, when credible, require a serious and evidence-based response that protects potential victims without unfairly attributing the conduct of individuals to an entire religious community.

The apparent involvement of minors also raises child-protection concerns. Any investigation should consider whether children were placed under pressure, exposed to harmful messaging or used by adults to promote hostility. Their welfare should be protected while the authorities determine individual responsibility.

Amnesty International’s call for an independent inquiry and JIBWIS leaders’ reported condemnation of the alleged threats underscore the importance of establishing the facts rather than allowing unverified claims to fuel religious tension.

247NewsCheck.com will continue to monitor the investigation into the viral video and report further verified developments concerning the identities of those involved, the circumstances of the recording and any action taken by the relevant authorities.