• Says Suspects deliberate setup by external actors to tarnish image
•• Urges DSS, Police to track down jogger demanding AK-47s
The National Chairman of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, has urged security agencies to arrest and investigate a man seen in a viral video wearing the group’s First Aid Group uniform while making violent threats against Enugu State.
In the video, the individual was seen participating in a jogging exercise while chanting calls for AK-47 rifles to launch an attack on Enugu on Sunday.
Reacting to the development, Sheikh Bala Lau called on the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force to unmask those involved and ensure they face the law.
The Islamic cleric explicitly disowned the statements, declaring that threats of violence against any group or community run counter to the core teachings and objectives of JIBWIS.
Wearing the uniform of our First Aid Group does not mean an individual is acting on behalf of or with the authority of JIBWIS,” Lau said, adding that the video may be a deliberate attempt by external actors to tarnish the organization’s reputation.
He pointed to the organization’s recent international conference in Abuja—which brought together Christian leaders and Muslim scholars to promote interavtive dialogue and peaceful coexistence—as proof of its commitment to national unity.
An organization that spends its resources building bridges across religious and ethnic divides cannot be associated with calls for violence against fellow Nigerians,” he stated.
Founded nearly 48 years ago, JIBWIS maintains that its mission remains rooted in Islamic education, humanitarian service, and peaceful coexistence across Nigeria.
