Amnesty International Nigeria has called on the Nigerian authorities to immediately investigate a viral video showing children and teenagers participating in marching drills led by adult coordinators wearing uniforms of the Jama’atu Izalatul Bidi’a Wa Iqamatus Sunnah, JIBWIS.
In a statement posted on its Facebook page on Monday, the rights group said the marchers were heard chanting slogans asking to be handed “AK-47 to attack Christians on a Sunday in Enugu and Jos.”
Amnesty described the slogans as “a vicious display of children being manipulated and indoctrinated with violence and hatred.”
“Such activities deepen hatred and encourage violence,” the organisation said.
It urged the authorities to investigate the organisers, examine the source, location and content of the footage, and review the slogans and curricula used during the youth activities.
The group also called on the government to ensure that minors involved in the programme are protected from radicalisation and provided with appropriate psychological and educational support, while holding accountable any individuals or religious groups found using children to promote intolerance and infringe on religious freedom.
According to Amnesty, protecting children from exposure to hateful rhetoric, militarised drills and extreme indoctrination is an obligation of the state under national and international law.
“Under the Child Rights Act and international human rights frameworks, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, children have an absolute right to protection from exposure to violence, hate speech, and recruitment or training in paramilitary activities,” it said.
The organisation added that using structured youth programmes or religious training groups to instil hostile ideologies compromises public safety and undermines freedom of religion.
