Calls for DSS and police probe after video allegedly shows uniformed youths chanting threats against Christians in Enugu and Jos
A disturbing video reportedly filmed somewhere in Northern Nigeria has raised serious concerns over alleged threats of religious violence, and is now being reported by several Nigerian news outlets.
The footage shows young men in brown uniforms and blue berets marching and chanting in Hausa during what appears to be a drill. News reports have linked the uniforms to the first-aid volunteer wing of the Islamic movement JIBWIS, whose members help coordinate Friday Jumu'ah prayers.
According to a Hausa-to-English translation circulating with the video, the drill leader allegedly calls for AK-47 rifles so the group can travel to Enugu and attack Christians during Sunday worship. He reportedly refers to the worshippers as "infidels", imitates the sound of gunfire, and also mentions Jos as another target.
Lere Olayinka, media aide to the FCT Minister, has called on the DSS and the police to investigate the video.
However, the location, date, identity of the speaker, the group's actual affiliation and the accuracy of the translation have not been independently verified. No response from the group had been reported at the time of writing.
If the translation is accurate, this is an extremely serious matter. Nobody should be allowed to use religion as an excuse to threaten innocent people, whether they are Christians or Muslims.
If someone openly calls for weapons to attack people during worship, shouldn't that be enough to trigger an immediate security investigation? Nigeria has suffered enough religious violence, and credible threats against worshippers cannot be treated as ordinary speech.
