November 1, (THEWILL) – The arrest of a 22-year-old man, Umar Ibrahim Gandi Maradun, over a viral video allegedly showing him calling for AK-47 rifles to kill Christians, has once again shown that the security agencies can act swiftly to de-escalate a potential threat to the peace in communities across the country.
The problem is that prompt response from the police to a situation like this happens only when the poor and average Nigerian is involved. An influential or prominent citizen can commit almost the same offense and get away with it. The question then is whether there is a difference between whose spoken word is dangerous as incitement to action that breaches public peace. The suspect was allegedly heard chanting, “Give us rifles to go and kill Christians,” while in the company of pupils from two Islamic schools in Maradun Local Government Area of the state.
Zamfara Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Bello, who confirmed the arrest of Umar Ibrahim Gandi Maradun while parading the suspect before journalists in Gusau, the state capital, said the command promptly deployed its intelligence resources after the video emerged to identify those involved and establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. According to him, preliminary findings indicated that the video was recorded on Friday, October 23, while the suspect was reportedly on his way to Aliyu Ibn Abi Thalib Mosque, where he and others provided security during Friday prayers and preaching.
Nurul Islam Islamiya and Akidatul Sahiha Islamiya were identified as the schools where the offence was committed, while the suspect was dressed in the uniform of the Jama’atu Izalatil Bidi’a Wa’ikamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) First Aid Group, Zamfara Chapter, when the incident occurred. Bello said the police engaged the leadership of JIBWIS at the national and state levels as part of efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the video.
According to him, the organisation disassociated itself from the suspect’s alleged conduct and the content of the video before apprehending him and handing him over to the police for investigation. The commissioner identified the suspect as a Nigerian citizen and indigene of Maradun Local Government Area, born on September 15, 2004.
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Bello added that the suspect reportedly joined JIBWIS in 2025 and had recently secured admission to study for a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication at Zamfara State University, Talata Mafara. Interestingly, this is not the first time a JIBWIS member has been in the news for the wrong reason. On October, 11, 2026, a prominent Islamic cleric, Sani Jingir, made provocative and inciting statements at a mass wedding celebration organised and sponsored by the Kano State Government for 1,500 couples. Rather than occupy himself with the matter of the moment, he used the occasion to reignite the debate over the APC’s controversial Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. He said, “I am one of those who raise the flag of Islam,” Mr Jingir said, adding that, “I am calling on people to come and let us do Muslim-Muslim again.
“So, here I am calling on you, please, everyone should get their votes ready,” he said, referring to the voter’s card, “Let us show the world that those unbelievers who claim they outnumber us in Nigeria are lying. When the votes were counted, Allah helped us and we defeated them. I know this statement pains the unbelievers. My vote is for Islam,” he told the gathering. “What about the votes of Muslim people?” he asked, and the audience responded, “It is for Muslims,” he said, referring to the APC’s 2023 presidential election victory. Coming from an influential religious leader in a multi-ethnic and diverse country, Jingir’s sectarian views were extremist, reckless and divisive.
Expectedly, he was condemned by religious and political leaders from across the country. Rather than tone down his dangerous rhetoric, Jingir went on to defend his stand on a global media platform, the BBC. Meanwhile, there was no word of invitation, no word of caution from the security agencies, even if perfunctorily. It is therefore not surprising that a younger JIBWIS member would have the temerity to imitate his leader.
As a 22-year-old who was born and is being raised under a democratic dispensation, he ought to be in a favourable position to imbibe the values and tenets of fairness, justice, equity and fraternity. That is why persons like Jingir, who are used to the old ways of coercion, control, and division, should be promptly called to order anytime they preach hate and extremism disguised as personal views. We must have the same laws for everyone.
