Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has defended the Jama’atu Izalatil Bidi’a Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), popularly known as Izala, following the arrest of a 22-year-old volunteer over a viral video allegedly calling for attacks on Christians.
Gumi made the remarks in a statement released on Tuesday, October 27, following the arrest of Umar Ibrahim Gandi Maradun by the Zamfara State Police Command over the video, which allegedly showed him calling for weapons to attack Christians in Enugu and Plateau states.
The cleric said the Izala movement had contributed to religious stability and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria for 47 years, arguing that the alleged conduct of an individual should not automatically be attributed to the organisation.
He said no act of violence could be directly attributed to the movement as an institution.
Gumi also cited the reported killing of Malam Aliyu Barnawa, whom he described as the movement’s first martyred scholar, saying he was reportedly stabbed in a mosque by individuals the movement regarded as heretics.
On the case involving the arrested volunteer, Gumi said the appropriate response was to investigate the allegation thoroughly and prosecute the suspect if the evidence established criminal responsibility.
“Justice must be guided by evidence, not sentiment,” he said.
The cleric also questioned the identity and motives of the person who recorded and circulated the video, asking why the incident was filmed and for what purpose the footage was distributed.
“There may be more to this incident than meets the eye,” he said.
Gumi said there were concerns that clandestine actors might attempt to infiltrate the movement, undermine its credibility or create divisions within it.
However, he cautioned against dismissing or accepting such possibilities without evidence, calling instead for a transparent investigation into the incident.
He also urged vigilance against possible infiltration and called for an unwavering commitment to justice, peace and the rule of law.
The Zamfara State Police Command had announced the arrest of Maradun over the viral footage, which reportedly showed him alongside other youths chanting calls for weapons to attack Christians.
The police said investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the recording and determine the involvement of those featured in the video.
The suspect was reportedly handed over to the police by JIBWIS leaders in Zamfara State after the footage attracted widespread attention.
