The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of Umar Ibrahim Gandi Maradun, a 22-year-old man from Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, in connection with a viral video allegedly containing statements capable of inciting religious violence. The video, which circulated widely on social media, reportedly showed youths wearing uniforms associated with the First Aid Group of Jama'atu Izalatil Bid'ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) chanting statements threatening attacks in Enugu and Jos, Plateau State.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, Ani Iniedu, the police were alerted to the video and quickly activated their intelligence resources to identify those involved. The Zamfara State Command engaged JIBWIS leadership at national and state levels, and the organisation's leadership disassociated itself from the alleged conduct and handed the suspect over to the police. Maradun is expected to be charged in court following the investigation.
The video was recorded on Friday, October 23, while Maradun and other youths were reportedly on their way to provide security during Friday prayers at a mosque. The footage attracted widespread reactions after it emerged online, with the youths allegedly calling for AK-47 rifles to attack people in Enugu and Jos. The circumstances surrounding the recording, including the identities of everyone involved and whether the activity was officially authorised, remain matters for investigation.
Maradun reportedly joined JIBWIS in 2025 and secured admission to study Mass Communication at Zamfara State University, Talata Mafara. The police urged Nigerians to remain calm and avoid further circulating the video or sharing unverified information that could heighten religious tensions or threaten public order. The Force also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigerians irrespective of religious affiliation and upholding the constitutional rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
The faction of JIBWIS led by Sheikh Muhammad Sani Yahaya Jingir has condemned the alleged calls for violence, stressing that it rejects such conduct under any guise. In a message to Muslim News, the faction's National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Ahmad Muhammad Ashiru, said the organisation condemned the calls against the backdrop of the security challenges facing Nigerians, particularly in the northern part of the country.
Ashiru highlighted banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery in the North-West and North-Central, as well as the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, among the challenges confronting the country. He called on security agencies to carry out their responsibilities diligently and ensure that those found responsible were brought to justice. The Jingir-led faction's Chairman of Internet Operations, Mallam Ibrahim Maina, also condemned the video and stressed that those featured in it did not belong to their faction.
The Bala Lau-led faction of JIBWIS also condemned the alleged calls for violence on Monday, October 26, urging security agencies to investigate the video and take appropriate action against anyone found culpable. The condemnation came a day before the Nigeria Police Force announced Maradun's arrest on Tuesday. The two JIBWIS factions' positions further distanced their leadership from the inflammatory statements attributed to the youths in the video, stressing the need for the matter to be investigated.
Key points
- Nigerian police arrest 22-year-old Umar Maradun over a viral video threatening attacks on "infidels" in Enugu and Jos.
- JIBWIS factions led by Sheikh Muhammad Sani Yahaya Jingir and Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau condemn the alleged calls for violence.
- The Nigeria Police Force urges Nigerians to remain calm and avoid circulating unverified information that could heighten religious tensions.
