The Zamfara State Police Command has launched preliminary findings from an investigation into the viral video of a person soliciting arms for his group to assault Christians in Enugu and Plateau states.
On Tuesday, police paraded the suspect, Umar Ibrahim, after arresting him in reference to the circulating footage.
Mr Ibrahim, reportedly a member of Jama’atu Izalatil Bidi’a Wa’ikamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), was handed over to regulation enforcement after the video provoked widespread outrage on social media.
Speaking at a press briefing in Gusau, the State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Bello, stated the video was recorded on 23 October whereas Mr Ibrahim led the organisation’s First Aid Group to a mosque in the Maradun Local Government Area.
Maradun is roughly 120 kilometres from Gusau, and the journey between the 2 cities takes practically 4 hours as a result of of poor street situations.
Mr Bello stated the suspect will likely be arraigned in courtroom and charged with breach of public peace, incitement of hatred, and felony intimidation, in violation of Sections 77, 78, and 380 of the state penal code.
The National Chairman of JIBWIS, Abdullahi Bala-Lau, condemned the footage and urged the State Security Services (SSS), the police and different safety businesses to unmask these behind the recording, and prosecute anybody discovered culpable.
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Mr Bala-Lau acknowledged that the inciting remarks and requires violence are overseas to the core values, teachings, and targets of JIBWIS.
He argued that carrying the organisation’s First Aid Group uniform or standing amongst members doesn’t confer official illustration or authority to talk on behalf of the physique.
Expressing concern in regards to the video’s timing and nature, the cleric famous that exterior actors might need calculatedly staged the incident to smear the organisation’s picture and undermine nationwide peace.
He pointed to JIBWIS’s peacebuilding monitor report, citing its current worldwide convention in Abuja, which convened Christian leaders, students from Islamic denominations, and worldwide delegates to foster interfaith concord and religious tolerance.
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