The Zamfara State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old man, Umar Ibrahim Gandi Maradun, over a viral video in which he allegedly called for weapons to kill Christians in Enugu and Plateau states.
The suspect, reportedly a member of Jama’atu Izalatil Bidi’a Wa’ikamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), was arrested after the video circulated on social media.
The Commissioner of Police, A.M. Bello, disclosed the arrest during a press briefing in Gusau on Tuesday, adding that an investigation had commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
In the video, the suspect, dressed in the uniform of the JIBWIS Zamfara State chapter, was allegedly heard chanting, “Give us rifles to go and kill infidels.”
He was also seen alongside pupils from two Islamic schools in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
According to the police, preliminary findings showed that the video was recorded on Friday, October 23, 2026, while the suspect was reportedly on his way to Aliyu Ibn Abi Thalib Mosque.
The police said he and others allegedly provided security during Friday prayers and preaching at the mosque.
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The two schools linked to the incident were identified as Nurul Islam Islamiya and Akidatul Sahiha Islamiya, both located in Maradun, approximately 120 kilometres from Gusau, the state capital.
Following the video’s emergence, the police said they contacted JIBWIS leaders at the national and state levels to address the situation.
The organisation reportedly distanced itself from the suspect’s alleged actions and the video’s contents before apprehending him and handing him over to the police.
The suspect, a native of Maradun Local Government Area, was born on September 15, 2004. He attended Mualledi Model Primary School and Government Day Secondary School, both in Maradun.
He reportedly joined JIBWIS in 2025 and recently gained admission to study Mass Communication at Zamfara State University, Talata Mafara.
The police commissioner said a comprehensive investigation was underway and that the suspect would be charged before a competent court after its conclusion.
Bello said the proposed charges could involve alleged incitement to violence, disturbance of public peace and criminal intimidation under Sections 77, 78 and 380(b) of the Penal Code Law applicable in Zamfara State, subject to the evidence gathered and the applicable law.
The commissioner condemned actions capable of promoting religious hatred, threatening communities or undermining peaceful coexistence.
He assured residents that the police would protect citizens of all religious backgrounds without discrimination.
Bello also urged religious leaders, parents, guardians, school authorities and community stakeholders to encourage tolerance, mutual respect and responsible behaviour among young people.
He appealed to members of the public to remain calm, avoid circulating unverified information and refrain from actions that could heighten religious tensions or threaten public order.
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