Gumi Calls For Transparent Investigation of Izala Youth After Viral Threat Video, Says JIBWIS Are a Peaceful Group

ABUJA, NIGERIA — Prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has called for an impartial, evidence-based investigation following a controversial viral video implicating a 22-year-old Izala first-aid volunteer in an alleged act of wrongdoing.

While reaffirming the Izala movement’s 47-year track record of promoting peace and religious stability in Nigeria, Sheikh Gumi warned against jumping to conclusions driven by public sentiment.

Sheikh Gumi pointed out that throughout its 47-year history, no act of institutional violence has ever been directly attributed to the organization.

He noted that the movement itself has historically been a target of aggression, recalling its first martyred scholar, Malam Aliyu Barnawa, who was stabbed to death inside a mosque by individuals regarded as heretics.

Addressing the immediate controversy surrounding the young volunteer, Sheikh Gumi maintained that individual actions must not be conflated with the institution as a whole.

“If a 22-year-old first-aid volunteer is implicated in an act of wrongdoing, the appropriate course is to investigate the matter thoroughly,” Gumi stated. “Where evidence establishes criminal responsibility, bring the individual before a competent court of law. Justice must be guided by evidence, not sentiment.”

While welcoming a legal inquiry into the volunteer’s actions, Sheikh Gumi raised sharp questions regarding the origin and distribution of the footage circulating online.

The cleric expressed deep concern over the identity, conduct, and true motives of the individual who filmed and disseminated the clip.
He questioned why it was recorded and to what end it was spread, suggesting there may be more to the incident than meets the eye.

The incident comes amid growing concerns that clandestine actors may be actively trying to infiltrate the organization. Sheikh Gumi acknowledged these fears, noting that external forces may be seeking to undermine the movement’s credibility or provoke internal fractures.

“Such possibilities should neither be dismissed outright nor treated as established facts without evidence,” Gumi concluded.

He stressed that the definitive solution lies in a completely transparent investigation, heightened internal vigilance against infiltration, and an unwavering commitment to peace and the rule of law.

KlickNews had reported that the police have arrested the young man who was seen leading the group in the threat march. His identity has been given as Uma Ibrahim Maradun.

Commissioner for Police Muhammad Bello disclosed that the investigation is ongoing to determine the full extent of the matter and called for public calm.