IBN News | October 26, 2026
Amnesty International has urged Nigerian security agencies to launch an immediate, independent and transparent investigation into a disturbing viral video allegedly showing young people, including children and teenagers, participating in marching drills accompanied by chants threatening violence against Christians in Enugu and Jos.
The footage, circulating on social media, has raised serious concerns about religious intolerance, the safety of children and the potential use of organised youth activities to promote violent rhetoric.
Reports about the video have associated the individuals shown with Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus-Sunnah (JIBWIS), popularly known as Izala. However, the identities of the participants, the precise location and date of the recording, and whether the activity was officially organised or authorised by the group’s leadership have not been independently established.
Translations circulating alongside the footage attribute to a male leader chants calling for an AK-47 rifle to attack people described as “infidels” in Enugu and Jos during Sunday worship. The reported lyrics include references to opening fire on worshippers and killing people in the two locations.
If accurately translated and presented in their proper context, such statements would represent an alarming expression of religiously targeted violence that warrants urgent scrutiny by the appropriate authorities.
The Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force should establish the authenticity of the footage, identify those involved and determine whether the statements constitute threats, incitement or other offences under Nigerian law.
Investigators should also establish where and when the recording was made, examine its full context and determine whether the participants were engaged in an authorised activity. The investigation should not rely solely on viral captions or translations without examining the original recording and obtaining competent linguistic interpretation.
CHILDREN MUST NOT BE EXPOSED TO VIOLENT INDOCTRINATION
Beyond the immediate security implications, the apparent involvement of minors raises fundamental questions about child protection and the responsibilities of adults who supervise youth activities.
Children are entitled to protection from exploitation, abuse and practices that threaten their physical and psychological development. Organised activities involving young people, whether religious, cultural, educational or civic, must promote discipline, tolerance and respect for human life rather than hostility towards people of different beliefs.
The authorities should therefore examine the nature of the drills, the chants and any instructional materials used during the activity. If evidence establishes that children were being encouraged to embrace violence or participate in unlawful paramilitary training, appropriate protective and legal measures should follow.
Such measures should prioritise the welfare of the minors involved, including access to appropriate psychological support and education where necessary. Children should not automatically be treated as perpetrators when they may themselves have been exposed to harmful influence from adults.
The Child Rights Act 2003, applicable in the Federal Capital Territory, and corresponding child-rights legislation adopted by states provide important protections for children. Nigeria is also a party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which recognises children’s rights to protection, development and education.
These protections make the welfare of the young participants a central concern in any credible investigation.
JIBWIS LEADERSHIP SHOULD CLARIFY ITS POSITION
The reported association between the participants and JIBWIS also makes it important for the organisation’s leadership to clarify whether the individuals belong to its structures and whether the activity was connected to any of its programmes.
If the association is established, the leadership should cooperate fully with investigators and explain the purpose of the exercise, the supervision provided and the circumstances surrounding the alleged chants.
Any individual found to have threatened violence, incited attacks or unlawfully exposed children to dangerous activities should be held accountable through due process.
At the same time, responsibility must be established through evidence. The conduct of individuals in a video should not automatically be attributed to every member of a religious organisation or to an entire faith community.
Nigeria’s religious diversity demands equal protection for all citizens, irrespective of whether they are Christians, Muslims or adherents of other beliefs. No community should be threatened because of its religion, and no organisation should be shielded from lawful investigation where credible evidence raises concerns about public safety.
SECURITY AGENCIES MUST ACT BEFORE THREATS ESCALATE
The references to Enugu and Jos make the matter particularly sensitive because the reported chants appear to identify specific locations and religious gatherings as targets.
Security agencies should assess whether the footage presents a credible threat, determine whether any preparatory activities have taken place and take proportionate preventive action where necessary. Relevant authorities in Enugu and Plateau states should also be informed of verified findings that may affect public safety.
A transparent investigation would help distinguish between inflammatory rhetoric, a credible threat and material that may have been misrepresented or circulated without its full context. It would also demonstrate that threats of religious violence are treated seriously, regardless of the identity or affiliation of those involved.
The government must not wait for an actual attack before responding to credible warnings. Equally, any action taken must be grounded in evidence and consistent with the law.
The appropriate response is neither silence nor collective blame. It is a prompt investigation, protection for vulnerable children, accountability for proven wrongdoing and clear public communication from the relevant authorities.
IBN News believes that the safety of Nigerians and the protection of children must take precedence over religious or political considerations. The reported chants deserve urgent scrutiny, and the public deserves to know what the evidence establishes.
The DSS, the Nigeria Police Force and the relevant child-protection authorities should investigate the footage and communicate their findings when it is appropriate to do so. The leadership of any organisation shown to be connected to the activity should cooperate with the process.
No child should be taught to regard another human being as a target for violence because of religious identity. No Nigerian should have to fear an attack while attending a place of worship.
The authorities must investigate, protect the children involved and ensure that anyone found responsible for unlawful incitement or abuse faces appropriate legal consequences.
