…Hassan tackles Senator Shehu Sani for defending the violent video
… JIBWIS National Chair call for arrest of drill instructor
By Dangwam Jude Dabee
Amnesty International has urged Nigerian authorities to investigate a video depicting a Jama’atu Izalatu Bidi’a Wa’iqamatus-Sunnah (JIBWIS) march drill involving children, in which the lead trainee called for the killing of Christians in Enugu, Eastern Nigeria, and Jos in the Middle Belt region.
The video reportedly shows the lead trainee referencing the use of an AK-47 rifle against Christians worshipping on a Sunday.
The international organisation made the call on Monday on its official website and FB page condemning the trending video of the JIBWIS Aid Group training small children, cautioning that the video has the capacity of setting the country in flames.
The statement read in part, “The Nigerian authorities must carry out an immediate and independent investigation into a viral video footage showing teenagers and children participating in marching drills led by adult coordinators wearing uniforms associated to Jama’atu Izalatu Bidi’a wa’iqamatus-Sunnah (JIBWIS).
“They stated that the marchers were chanting slogans with reference to taking up ‘AK-47 to attack Christians on a Sunday in Enugu and Jos.’ the slogans are a vicious display of children being manipulated and indoctrinated with violence and hatred.
“The authorities must examine the source, location, and contents of the video footage and review the moral songs and curricula used during these youth activities. Authorities must also ensure that minors involved in these programmes are protected from radicalisation and provided appropriate psychological and educational support, while holding accountable any individuals or religious groups found using children to promote intolerance and infringing religious freedom.”
Amnesty International noted that, “Protecting children from exposure to hateful rhetoric, militarised drills, and extreme indoctrination is an obligation of the state under national and international law. Under the Child Rights Act and international human rights frameworks, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, children have an absolute right to protection from exposure to violence, hate speech, and recruitment or training in paramilitary activities.”
It warned that “using structured youth programmes or religious training groups to instil hostile ideologies compromises the safety, moral development, and future of young Nigerians.”
Meanwhile former Senator representing Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani has taken to his social media page countering public outcry against the group and video as faults and misleading.
“JIBWIS are not killers. They are not terrorists. They have been a well-behaved uniform group of volunteers supporting humanitarian and moral causes. The allegations against them are false and misleading,” Sani stated.
However, Mr. Hasan Yakubu a resident of Zaria took to has tackled Senator Shehu Sani over his comment condoning the video and watering the magnitude of damage that comes with such teaching and manipulation of children under the guise of religion.
Hassan Yakubu, a resident of Zaria. Credit: Advocatus Africa.
“I belong to Izala, and I recognise the uniform in this video as belonging to the movement. But my religious affiliation will never stop me from condemning what is clearly wrong. I cannot tell whether those involved are from the Jos or Kaduna faction of Izala, but that is not even the most important issue. What matters is the dangerous message being communicated.
He recalled, ‘Give me, give me AK-47, To go to Enugu, The land of the infidels, On Sunday when they are worshipping, Then move to Jos on Sunday.’ How can anyone describe a song with such dangerous lyrics as a mere military drill? If it were simply a drill, why weren’t Boko Haram insurgents or bandit terrorists the targets? Why innocent Christian worshippers in Enugu and Jos?” He questioned
According to Yakubu, “many Muslims are doing more damage to Islam than those we accuse every day of attacking the religion or of Islamaphobia. This video is a clear display of terrorist ideology, and we must have the courage to condemn it, regardless of who is involved. This kind of religious intolerance is one of the reasons we are where we are today in terms of insecurity.
“We must not take this evil video for granted. Security agencies should investigate it thoroughly, question all the adults involved and prosecute anyone found culpable. The younger ones should undergo proper reorientation to address whatever hatred they may have been taught.”
Yakubu called on the Izala sect leadership investigate and take appropriate disciplinary action against the leader of the Yan Agaji involved in the video.
He tackle Senator Shehu Sani thus, “Attempts by some politicians, including Senator Shehu Sani, to defend the sect or downplay the incident because we are approaching an election period are equally unfortunate. Yes, Izala has contributed to society through first aid services and other humanitarian activities, as Shehu Sani noted. But those contributions cannot excuse such dangerous utterances, especially at this stage of our national development.
“Religious differences should never be an excuse to threaten or take innocent lives. If we cannot condemn evil because it comes from our own religious group, then we are part of the problem,” Yakubu stated.
Meanwhile, the National Chairman of JIBWIS, Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, has strongly condemned a viral video showing a man dressed in the uniform of the organisation’s First Aid Group, participating in a jogging exercise and chanting provocative statements calling for AK-47 rifles to be given to them to enable them to travel to Enugu on Sunday and carry out an attack.
The National Chairman of JIBWIS Aid Group Shiekh Abdullahi Bala Lau. Credit: Advocatus Africa.
In a statement on Monday, reacting to the disturbing development, Sheikh Bala Lau called on the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies to immediately investigate the incident, identify those responsible and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice in accordance with the law.
The National Chairman categorically dissociated JIBWIS from the inflammatory statements, stressing that such expressions of violence, intimidation and threats against any community are completely alien to the principles, teachings and objectives upon which the organisation was established.
He emphasised that wearing the uniform of the JIBWIS First Aid Group or appearing among its members does not automatically establish that an individual is acting on behalf of the organisation or with its authorisation.
Sheikh Bala Lau further expressed concern that the incident could represent a deliberate attempt by individuals or external interests to misrepresent the organisation and damage its longstanding reputation. And, therefore, urged security agencies to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the video, including the identity, affiliation and possible motives of those involved.
The Chairman recalled that JIBWIS recently organised an international conference in Abuja, bringing together Christian leaders, Muslim scholars from different Islamic schools of thought, prominent personalities and participants from different parts of the world, with the central objective of promoting interfaith dialogue, mutual understanding, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
He questioned how an organisation that has consistently invested its resources, leadership and institutional efforts in building bridges across religious and ethnic divides could reasonably be associated with statements advocating violence against fellow Nigerians.
The National Chairman reiterated that for approximately 48 years since the establishment of the Aid Group, “JIBWIS has remained committed to the propagation of authentic Islamic teachings, the promotion of the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), moral reformation, education, humanitarian services and the peaceful coexistence of people irrespective of their religious, ethnic or geographical backgrounds,” Lau stated.
