Police Arrest 22-Year-Old Over Viral Video Allegedly Inciting Religious Violence in Zamfara

The Zamfara State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old man, identified as Umar Ibrahim Gandi Maradun, over a viral video allegedly containing inflammatory remarks and threats of violence against Christians.

According to reports by Leadership Newspaper and Premium Times on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, the Commissioner of Police in Zamfara State, A.M. Bello, disclosed the arrest during a press briefing in Gusau.

The police commissioner said the command launched an investigation after becoming aware of the video, which allegedly showed the suspect wearing the uniform of the First Aid Group of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) while making statements calling for violence against Christians.

Preliminary investigations reportedly indicated that the video was recorded on Friday, October 23, while the suspect was on his way to Aliyu Ibn Abi Thalib Mosque in Maradun Local Government Area, where he and others were said to have provided security during Friday prayers.

The footage also reportedly showed the suspect in the company of pupils from two Islamiyya schools in the area: Nurul Islam Islamiyya and Akidatul Sahiha Islamiyya.

Following public concern over the video, the police said they engaged the leadership of JIBWIS at both national and state levels. The organisation reportedly distanced itself from the alleged remarks, maintaining that calls for violence and religious hatred were inconsistent with its principles.

The suspect was subsequently apprehended by JIBWIS members and handed over to the police for investigation.

The National Chairman of JIBWIS, Abdullahi Bala-Lau, also condemned the inflammatory remarks in a statement reported by Premium Times, calling on security agencies to investigate the incident and ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted in accordance with the law.

Bala-Lau reportedly cautioned against assuming that an individual wearing the organisation’s uniform or appearing alongside its members was necessarily speaking on its behalf.

The police commissioner said the suspect, a native of Maradun Local Government Area, was born on September 15, 2004. He reportedly joined JIBWIS in 2025 and recently secured admission to study Mass Communication at Zamfara State University, Talata Mafara.

According to the reports, the suspect could face charges relating to alleged incitement to violence, disturbance of public peace and criminal intimidation under the applicable laws of Zamfara State after investigations are concluded.

The allegations have not been established in court, and the suspect remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

The Zamfara State Police Command reiterated its commitment to protecting residents irrespective of their religious affiliations and safeguarding the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

The commissioner condemned actions capable of promoting religious hatred, threatening public safety or undermining peaceful coexistence. He also urged religious leaders, parents, guardians and school authorities to encourage tolerance and mutual respect, particularly among young people.

The police further appealed to members of the public to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information and refrain from actions that could heighten religious tensions.

The incident has renewed concerns about the potential consequences of inflammatory statements circulated on social media, particularly in a country where peaceful coexistence among religious communities remains an important public concern.