By Georgina George
Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian authorities to carry out immediate and independent investigation into a viral video in which members of Jama’atu Izalatu Bidi’a wa Iqamatus-Sunnah (JIBWIS), threatened to kill Christians in Enugu and Jos.
In the video which sparked outrage, teenagers and children taking part in marching drills led by an adults could be heard asking to be armed with AK-47 riffle with the intention to kill people they described as unbelievers in Southeast and Middle-belt part of Nigeria.
Reacting to the development in a statement on Monday, the rights group which called for investigation into the incident wondered why a religious group would contemplate taking up arms against “christians ” for belonging to another faith.
“The slogans are a vicious display of children being manipulated and indoctrinated with violence and hatred,” Amnesty said.
The organisation urged the authorities to examine the source, location and content of the footage and to review the songs and curricula used in the youth activities. It also called for the minors involved to be protected from radicalisation and given appropriate psychological and educational support.
Amnesty further demanded that any individuals or religious groups found to be using children to promote intolerance and violate religious freedom be held accountable.
“Protecting children from exposure to hateful rhetoric, militarised drills, and extreme indoctrination is an obligation of the state under national and international law,” the statement said.
It cited the Child Rights Act and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which protect children from violence, hate speech, and recruitment or training in paramilitary activities.
Amnesty warned that using structured youth programmes or religious training groups to instil hostile ideologies compromises the safety, moral development and future of young Nigerians.
