Sheikh Bala Lau Calls for Probe, Arrest Over Viral Enugu Attack Threat

By Ibrahim Shehu Giwa. The National Chairman of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, has strongly condemned a viral video showing a man dressed in the uniform of the organisation’s First Aid Group, participating in a jogging exercise and chanting provocative statements calling for AK-47 rifles to be given to them to enable them to travel to Enugu on Sunday and carry out an attack.

Reacting to the disturbing development, Sheikh Bala Lau called on the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies to immediately investigate the incident, identify those responsible and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice in accordance with the law.

The National Chairman categorically dissociated JIBWIS from the inflammatory statements, stressing that such expressions of violence, intimidation and threats against any community are completely alien to the principles, teachings and objectives upon which the organisation was established.

He emphasised that wearing the uniform of the JIBWIS First Aid Group or appearing among its members does not automatically establish that an individual is acting on behalf of the organisation or with its authorisation.

Sheikh Bala Lau further expressed concern that the incident could represent a deliberate attempt by individuals or external interests to misrepresent the organisation and damage its longstanding reputation. He therefore urged security agencies to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the video, including the identity, affiliation and possible motives of those involved.

The Chairman recalled that JIBWIS recently organised an international conference in Abuja, bringing together Christian leaders, Muslim scholars from different Islamic schools of thought, prominent personalities and participants from different parts of the world, with the central objective of promoting interfaith dialogue, mutual understanding, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

He questioned how an organisation that has consistently invested its resources, leadership and institutional efforts in building bridges across religious and ethnic divides could reasonably be associated with statements advocating violence against fellow Nigerians.

For approximately 48 years since its establishment, JIBWIS has remained committed to the propagation of authentic Islamic teachings, the promotion of the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), moral reformation, education, humanitarian services and the peaceful coexistence of people irrespective of their religious, ethnic or geographical backgrounds.

Sheikh Bala Lau commissions 3000-Capacity Juma’at Mosque built by Hon. Abubakar Bichi

The national leader of the Jama'atu Izalatul Bid'ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, commissioned the 3,000-Capacity modern Juma’at Mosque and an Islamiyyah school built by Hon. Abubakar Kabir Abubakar, the member representing Bichi Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives.

The commissioning ceremony of the mosque was held Friday in Bichi Local Government Area of Kano state.

The Juma’at Mosque was located along Gwarzo road in Bichi (B) and was named after the renowned Islamic Scholar and Jurist, late Sheikh Abubakar Mahmoud Gumi

The project comprises a juma’at mosque, an Islamiyyah School and toilets within its premises.

Hon. Abubakar Kabir Abubakar said that he constructed the mosque and the Islamiyya to boost Islamic education in the community.

The project is part of the lawmaker’s efforts to bring pay back to his constituents.

The lawmaker had built several schools including Islmaiyyah schools, roads, healthcare facilities and culverts among other projects

In attendance during the commission were the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Pakistan, who doubles as the leader of Jama'atu Izalatul Bid'ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) in Kano State, and Sheikh Muhammad Kabiru Gombe, the national Secretary of the organization.

Others were the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, several lawmakers from different parts of Nigeria as well as members of the business community.