Nigerians have called for an investigation into a viral video allegedly showing a young man leading a group of boys in chants threatening attacks on Christians in Enugu State.
The footage, which has circulated on social media, shows the man marching alongside the boys, who are dressed in uniforms associated with the volunteer service arm of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS).
The group is reportedly known as the First Aid Group (FAG), with its members commonly referred to as ’Yan Agaji.
According to the translation accompanying the video, the chant calls for an AK-47 rifle to enable the singer to travel to Enugu and shoot people attending church services on Sunday.
The lyrics allegedly describe Enugu as a land of “infidels” and include sounds mimicking gunfire.
However, the authenticity and full context of the footage, as well as the identities of those involved and their affiliation with JIBWIS, have yet to be independently established.
The uniforms alone do not confirm whether the individuals are members of the organisation or whether its leadership authorised the activity.
The video has sparked widespread condemnation and calls for security agencies to identify those involved and investigate the alleged threats.
Reacting on X, a user identified as Bia-pulse urged the authorities to act if the translation of the chant was accurate.
“How can anyone openly make such threatening statements in the name of religion?” the user asked.
Bia-pulse called for the identification and arrest of those involved if the allegations were substantiated, stressing that residents of Enugu and the South-East deserved protection from threats based on their religious beliefs or identity.
Another user, Mato, described the alleged chant as “pure barbarism”, arguing that people should respect religious differences rather than label adherents of other faiths as infidels.
Lekdung expressed concern over what the user described as the growing prevalence of religious intolerance in northern Nigeria.
Similarly, Babankowa called on the authorities and the Izala sect to investigate the footage and take appropriate action against those found responsible.
“This is un-Islamic. I called upon Authorities and the Izala sect to investigate this boy and take necessary action,” the user wrote.
Babankowa also urged Nigerians to place national unity above religious differences, declaring that “Nigeria is more important than anything.”
Pandora Queen, who identified as a Muslim, also condemned the behaviour allegedly depicted in the video and called for action by the relevant authorities.
“As a Muslim, I condemn this behaviour, and I call on the appropriate authorities to take action on these young men. This is not Islam or what Islam teaches us,” the user wrote.
However, Faysarhl criticised what the user considered an unfair tendency to associate the actions of individuals from northern Nigeria with Islam.
“Why are you people so quick to call Islam whenever a northerner does something, and reverse is never the case when an easterner is doing something wrong,” the user wrote.
Another commenter, Devon Ajala, expressed concern about the possible exposure of children to extremist rhetoric, warning that the incident could provoke further religious tension.
“If Enugu people start hating on Muslims, you will label them Islamophobes,” the user wrote.
The reactions have renewed discussions about religious tolerance, the protection of children from potentially violent indoctrination and the dangers of inflammatory rhetoric in a country characterised by religious and ethnic diversity.
As of the time of this report, the identities and location of the young man and the boys, their actual relationship with JIBWIS, and the circumstances surrounding the recording remain unverified.
