The police on Tuesday said a prime suspect has been arrested after being caught on video leading Volunteer Corps of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah in a chant, demanding AK-47 rifles to shoot Christian infidels in Enugu and Jos, the capital of Plateau.
Ani Iniedu, police spokesperson, in a statement on Tuesday, said the 22-year-old suspect, Umar Maradun, from Maradun council area of Zamfara, was arrested for making statements capable of inciting religious violence.
The police command in Zamfara arrested Mr Maradun.
“Investigation is ongoing, and the suspect will be charged before a competent court where sufficient evidence establishes the commission of an offence under applicable law,” Mr Iniedu said.
In the video, a young man dressed in Izala Volunteer Corps uniform, a beige and blue beret, chanted, “Give us AK. Give AK. Let’s go to Enugu among infidels on Sunday while they are worshipping. Let’s open fire on them.” Several others chanted along with him in the video.
The chorus leader called for AK-47 rifles to invade churches in Jos.
Sheikh Bala Lau, the national chairman of JIBWIS, on Monday condemned the call for violence by its sect members, urging the State Security Service, the police and other relevant security agencies to immediately investigate the incident, identify those responsible and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice in accordance with the law.
A netizen, @Arojinle, said, “That’s Izala’s uniform. I hope the @PoliceNG and @OfficialDSSNG take action before we have another terrorist faction within us. One major problem is that Izala adherents are not in the North alone. They exist in Hausa-dominated microenvironments. I’ve seen their branded bus at Sabo, Ìbàdàn, several times.”
“Just watched a disturbing video of this Izala (JIBWIS) Agaji member singing a gyration song while leading his team, saying, “Give me AK-47 so that I will go to Enugu and kill infidels (arna) on Sunday while they are praying and happy. Give me guns to go to Jos and kill more infidels—that is the Sunnah, that is the training,” @Timmosion said. “You may think this is just music or a joke, but deep down, that is their true mindset. The only thing standing between them and carrying out such thoughts is the secular state and its laws.”
@Abdul_Ahmad said, “With all due respect, this is completely wrong and not part of the teaching of Islam. I’m calling the attention of the Izala 2 leadership under Sheikh Bala Lau and Kabiru Gombe to look into this matter with immediate effect so as not to produce more extremists.”
