JIBWIS Members AK-47 Enugu Jos Threats Spark Investigation

• A viral video shows youths in JIBWIS First Aid Group uniforms chanting for AK-47s to attack "infidels" in Enugu and Jos.
• The chants explicitly threatened to open fire on people in Enugu on a Sunday and in Jos.
• JIBWIS National Chairman, Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, condemned the statements and dissociated the organization from the calls for violence.
• Both JIBWIS and Amnesty International Nigeria have demanded an investigation by the Department of State Services and Nigeria Police Force.
• The incident raises concerns about incitement to violence and the legal precedent for addressing hate speech in Nigeria.

The legal response to this incident will establish a significant precedent for how public threats and hate speech are addressed in Nigeria.

A disturbing video recently surfaced on social media, depicting youths clad in uniforms associated with the First Aid Group of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) engaging in a marching exercise. During this activity, the individuals were heard chanting provocative statements, explicitly calling for AK-47 rifles and threatening violent attacks in the Nigerian cities of Enugu and Jos. This footage, which began circulating on a Monday, has ignited significant concern regarding potential incitement to violence.

One participant in the video was distinctly heard repeating, "Aban AK, Aban AK, Aban AK," which translates to a demand for an AK-47. The chant continued with specific threats: "Na je Enugu, Na je Enugu, cikin arna, cikin arna, tun ran Sunday, tun ran Sunday, suna murna, suna tapi, suna tapi, na basu wuta, na basu wuta, na basu wuta tutu tutu tutu tutu Aban AK, Aban AK, Aban AK, na je can Jos, na je can Jos." This translates to a declaration of intent to go to Enugu "amidst infidels" on a Sunday, while they are "jubilating and clapping," to "open fire on them." The same threat was then extended to Jos, targeting "infidels" there with similar violent intent.

In response to the alarming content of the video, Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, the National Chairman of JIBWIS, issued a strong condemnation of the statements made by the youths. Through a statement published by JIBWIS Nigeria, Sheikh Bala Lau unequivocally dissociated the organization from the calls for violence, asserting that such expressions are fundamentally inconsistent with the principles and teachings upon which JIBWIS was founded. He stressed that the organization's objectives do not align with intimidation, violence, or threats against any community.

Both JIBWIS and Amnesty International Nigeria have called for a comprehensive investigation into the incident. Sheikh Bala Lau specifically urged the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and other relevant security agencies to promptly investigate the matter. The objective is to identify the individuals involved in the video, establish culpability, and ensure that justice is served in accordance with the law. JIBWIS also cautioned against automatically assuming that individuals wearing uniforms associated with its First Aid Group are acting on behalf of or with the authorization of the organization.

The viral video has raised serious concerns about the potential for incitement of violence against specific communities in Enugu and Jos, highlighting the dangers of inflammatory rhetoric and the involvement of young people in militarized drills. The term "infidel," used in the chants, is defined by the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary as a person accused of not adhering to the central beliefs of a particular religion or someone who holds no religious beliefs, underscoring the religious extremism inherent in the threats.

The ongoing investigation by the Department of State Services and Nigeria Police Force into these incitement claims is critical. The legal response to this incident will establish a significant precedent for how public threats and hate speech are addressed in Nigeria. This outcome will have implications for corporate social responsibility and community engagement strategies, particularly in regions affected by such religious extremism and potential violence.

Lawyers and compliance officers should monitor the ongoing investigation by the Department of State Services and Nigeria Police Force into these incitement claims, as the legal response will set a precedent for addressing public threats and hate speech, impacting advice on corporate social responsibility and community engagement in affected regions.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH.