Outrage as viral video shows youth preaching religious intolerance, violence

Nigerians on social media have demanded an investigation of a viral video showing a young man leading a group of boys in chanting violent threats against Christians.

The footage, which has circulated widely on Facebook and X, captures the unidentified man leading the boys, all dressed in JIBWIS volunteer uniforms, through an unpaved street as they march and chant in Hausa.

In the video, the leader is heard soliciting assault rifles to carry out mass killings in churches in Enugu and Plateau states.

“Give me an AK-47 so that I will go to Enugu and kill non-Muslims on Sunday while they are praying. Give me guns so I will go to Jos and kill more infidels,” the man chants, with the children chorusing after him.

The uniforms worn by the children match the attire of the First Aid Group of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS)—the prominent Islamic organisation’s humanitarian wing, locally known as ’Yan Agaji.

However, it remains unconfirmed whether the participants are officially registered members of the group or if the display was sanctioned by JIBWIS leadership.

The clip has sparked widespread condemnation across religious and ethnic divides, amplifying fears over child indoctrination, rising religious intolerance, and threats to national unity.

Reacting on Facebook, Najib Sani called for urgent reform in local religious schools.

“Some Islamiyya teachers need reorientation; they must stop poisoning the minds of children with hatred. In Nigeria, Muslims and Christians, northerners and southerners, are brothers sharing the same nation. This brand of bigotry has no place in our society.”

Another user, Abban Malami, warned of the long-term national security implications:

“We are not serious as a country. These small children are openly being groomed in religious extremism and Boko Haram ideology. We watch this happen without taking decisive action, and when they pick up arms tomorrow, we will pretend to be surprised and tell people to pray.”

Joining her voice to the outrage, Maryam Abdullahi noted:

“Children are blank slates; what you pour into them is what comes out. Whoever weaponised these innocent kids with such toxic hatred should be arrested immediately.

True Islam preaches peace and the preservation of human life, not slaughtering neighbours.”

Ali Chukwudi, another Facebook user, said:

“These are the monsters some political vampires, hiding under the title of scholars, are grooming and training in Northern Nigeria. It is frightening how hatred is being packaged as religious knowledge and fed to young minds.

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“Let me make this clear to those tagging me in this post: This is not Islam. Our religion teaches love, justice, compassion and peaceful coexistence, not hatred, intimidation or violence against people of different faiths.

“However, religious extremism and hate speech should never be treated as harmless statements. The government and relevant security agencies must wake up and address this growing danger before it becomes another national tragedy.

“I vividly remember that last year, a group of people allegedly created a platform where they discussed plans to capture and bury Igbo Muslims alive. The disturbing plot eventually leaked to the public, yet, to the best of my knowledge, nobody has been arrested or held accountable.

“How many more threats must be made before the authorities take action?

“I am calling on the relevant security agencies to investigate this matter, identify and apprehend not just the individuals directly involved but also the leadership of the organisation responsible for creating an environment where such dangerous ideologies are promoted. You cannot preach peace with one hand and groom hatred with the other”, Mr Chukwudi stated on Facebook.

As of filing this report, neither security agencies nor the national leadership of JIBWIS have issued an official statement regarding the incident.

The location of the recording and the precise identities of those involved have yet to be independently verified.

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