The Northern Christian Association (NCA) has called on security agencies to investigate a viral video showing youths demanding AK-47 rifles to attack people described as infidels in Enugu and Plateau states.
The association described the chants as barbaric, shameful and a serious security concern, urging authorities to establish the authenticity of the footage, identify those involved and take appropriate action if the allegations are substantiated.
“While we will not conclude until the authenticity of the video is verified, it now seems that some individuals have become so powerful that they can make hateful remarks and go scot-free without any security checks,” Hayab said. “This is no longer a religious issue but a security matter. It is shameful and must not be encouraged.”
In a statement issued on Monday, NCA chairman, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, said the association would not reach a conclusion until the video had been verified but warned that the alleged threats should not be dismissed as a mere religious controversy.
The video, which circulated widely on social media from Sunday, October 25, shows a man leading a group of boys and young men in marching drills while chanting in Hausa.
According to translations accompanying the footage, the speaker calls for AK-47 rifles to travel to Enugu and attack Christians during Sunday worship before proceeding to Jos to kill more people described as unbelievers.
The participants appear to be wearing uniforms associated with the First Aid Group of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), a Nigerian Islamic organisation popularly known as the Izala movement.
However, the identities of those featured, the circumstances surrounding the recording and whether the activity was authorised by the organisation require independent verification.
The chairman of the Northern Christian Association urged the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies to investigate the footage, establish when and where it was recorded, and determine whether the statements attributed to the participants had been accurately translated.
He also called on Christian and Muslim leaders, parents and community stakeholders to ensure that young people were raised with values that promote respect for human life, tolerance, discipline and peaceful coexistence. “What a barbaric way of doing things! Both Christians and Muslims should embrace the moral responsibility of training their children. This is not good for our country.”
The NCA’s demand followed similar calls from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Amnesty International Nigeria for an independent investigation into the video. CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, described the alleged threats as alarming and unacceptable, insisting that Nigerians should be able to practise their religion without fear of violence.
In a statement on Tuesday, October 27, Okoh urged security agencies to identify those involved, investigate who organised or facilitated the activity, and prosecute anyone found culpable. He also called for an assessment of the credibility of the threats and appropriate security measures to protect Christian communities and places of worship in Enugu, Jos and other parts of the country.
CAN acknowledged reports that JIBWIS leadership had disavowed the video but maintained that such a denial should not replace an independent investigation. Amnesty International Nigeria also called for an immediate and independent investigation, expressing concern that children and teenagers appeared to be participating in an activity involving chants promoting religious hatred and violence.
The organisation urged authorities to investigate the organisers, establish the origin of the footage and ensure that children involved were protected from exposure to violent extremism and intolerance. Meanwhile, the Zamfara State Police Command has reportedly arrested a 22-year-old man, Umar Ibrahim Gandi, in connection with the viral video.
Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Bello, said the suspect was arrested following intelligence efforts to identify those involved and establish the circumstances surrounding the footage. The police reportedly said preliminary findings indicated that the video was recorded on Friday, October 23, 2026.
Gandi, a native of Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, is being investigated over alleged incitement to violence, disturbance of public peace and criminal intimidation. The police said investigations would establish the circumstances surrounding the recording and determine the appropriate action.
The arrest represents a development in efforts to establish responsibility for the footage, although the full identities of the other participants and the circumstances surrounding the alleged threats remain matters for investigation. The controversy has renewed concerns about religious intolerance and the potential consequences of rhetoric encouraging violence against people because of their faith.
The NCA maintained that every Nigerian, irrespective of religious or ethnic background, has the right to live and worship without fear, urging security agencies to investigate thoroughly and prevent the alleged threats from escalating into actual violence. The association also called on religious institutions and community leaders to promote peaceful coexistence and reject messages that portray people of other faiths as enemies.