The Zamfara State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old man, Umar Ibrahim Gandi Maradun, following the circulation of a video allegedly showing him leading chants calling for attacks against Christians. The arrest followed public condemnation of the recording and demands for security agencies to investigate statements considered capable of provoking religious violence.
The arrest was confirmed on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, by the Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, A. M. Bello, during a briefing in Gusau, the state capital. Police said the suspect, who is from Maradun Local Government Area, appeared in the video wearing a uniform associated with Jama’atu Izalatil Bidi’a Wa’ikamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), alongside pupils from two Islamic schools.
According to the police, the recording allegedly contained the words, “Give us rifles to go and kill Christians,” raising concerns about religious incitement and threats to public safety.
The video, which circulated widely on social media, reportedly showed a group of young people participating in a marching exercise while chanting statements interpreted as threats against Christian communities in Enugu and Plateau states.
Police said the content prompted the command to activate its intelligence resources to identify those involved and determine the circumstances in which the recording was made.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the video was recorded on Friday, October 23, 2026, when the suspect was reportedly travelling to Aliyu Ibn Abi Thalib Mosque in Maradun.
According to the police commissioner, Maradun and others were said to have been involved in providing security during Friday prayers and religious preaching at the mosque.
The two schools identified in connection with the video were Nurul Islam Islamiya and Akidatul Sahiha Islamiya, both situated in Maradun Local Government Area, approximately 120 kilometres from Gusau.
The police did not establish that the management of either school authorised the alleged statements or supported the conduct shown in the recording.
Following the video's circulation, the command contacted JIBWIS leaders at both national and state levels to establish the suspect's connection with the organisation.
The religious organisation subsequently distanced itself from the alleged threats and cooperated with the police investigation.
According to the commissioner, the suspect was apprehended by JIBWIS representatives and handed over to the Zamfara State Police Command for further investigation.
The development followed calls from religious leaders and civil society organisations for security agencies to identify those responsible for the threatening statements.
JIBWIS National Chairman Abdullahi Bala-Lau had condemned the alleged incitement and urged the police, Department of State Services and other security agencies to investigate the recording.
The organisation's response sought to distinguish its activities from the statements allegedly made by the suspect.
Police identified Maradun as a Nigerian citizen born on September 15, 2004, and a native of Maradun Local Government Area.
The command said he attended Mualledi Model Primary School and Government Day Secondary School in Maradun before joining JIBWIS in 2025.
According to the preliminary findings, he recently secured admission to study Mass Communication at Zamfara State University in Talata Mafara.
The police disclosed that investigations were continuing and that the suspect would be brought before a competent court upon their conclusion.
The offences under consideration include alleged incitement to violence, disturbance of public peace and criminal intimidation.
The commissioner referred to Sections 77, 78 and 380(b) of the Penal Code Law applicable in Zamfara State as possible legal provisions relevant to the investigation.
However, the proposed charges remain subject to the evidence gathered and the applicable law. The suspect has not been convicted of any offence in connection with the recording.
The Nigeria Police Force also confirmed the arrest through its Force Public Relations Officer, Ani Iniedu, who said the authorities were investigating statements considered capable of threatening public peace and peaceful coexistence.
The Force maintained that it would take appropriate lawful action against conduct capable of inciting religious hatred or provoking violence.
The Zamfara commissioner condemned threats directed at people because of their religious beliefs and reaffirmed the command's responsibility to protect residents regardless of their faith.
He also stressed the importance of safeguarding constitutionally guaranteed rights, including freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
The incident has renewed concerns about the circulation of inflammatory messages and the possible consequences of religious threats in communities already facing serious security challenges.
The references to Enugu and Jos in the reported video were particularly concerning because the alleged statements identified communities outside Zamfara State as potential targets.
Nevertheless, police have not publicly established that the suspect possessed firearms, had organised an armed group or had taken operational steps to carry out the threats.
The investigation will therefore need to distinguish the content of the alleged chants from any evidence of preparations for actual violence.
The involvement of young people in the recording has also drawn attention to the responsibility of parents, teachers, religious leaders and community organisations to discourage messages promoting hatred.
The police urged those responsible for educating and supervising young people to encourage tolerance, mutual respect and responsible conduct.
Authorities also appealed to the public to remain calm and avoid circulating unverified information capable of escalating religious tensions.
The command cautioned against further sharing inflammatory material in ways that could provoke fear, hostility or retaliatory actions.
Although the arrest has been confirmed, several questions remain unresolved, including the precise role of other participants in the video and whether additional individuals will face investigation.
Police have not announced further arrests arising from the incident or confirmed that formal charges have been filed against Maradun.
The case will now depend on the outcome of the police investigation and any subsequent judicial proceedings.
For the Zamfara State Police Command, the immediate priority remains establishing the facts surrounding the recording while preventing religious hostility and protecting the rights of all communities.
The arrest represents an initial law-enforcement response to the viral video, but responsibility for any criminal offence must ultimately be determined through the legal process.
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