Operatives of Islamic morality police in northern Nigeria known as Hisbah, have arrested several young muslim men accused of not observing the Ramadan fast on the first day of the holy month.
The Deputy Commander General of the Kano State Hisbah Board, Dr. Mujahideen Abubakar, told journalists in Kano that the suspects were apprehended during routine patrols conducted across different parts of Kano metropolis to ensure compliance with Islamic laws.
In addition to enforcing fasting regulations, the Hisbah Board also cracked down on individuals sporting what it described as “indecent haircuts,” arresting about 60 people. According to Hisba officials, the hairstyles violate Islamic teachings and cultural norms in the state.
The Islamic morality police said it apprehended several commercial tricycle (keke napep) operators for allegedly carrying mixed-gender passengers.
Hisbah reiterated its stance against the practice, emphasizing that it would not tolerate the mingling of unrelated men and women in public transport.
The Hisbah Board is a religious police force responsible for the enforcement of Shari’a to only Muslims in Kano state and other parts of the northern Nigeria.
Since 2000, twelve states in northern Nigeria have added criminal law to the jurisdiction of Shari’a (Islamic law) courts. Shari’a has been in force for many years in northern Nigeria, where the majority of the population is Muslim, but until 2000, its scope was limited to personal status and civil law.
The relationship between the Hisbah Corps and civil police has been sometimes acrimonious. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), to whom the Hisbah must report crimes, frequently refuse to cooperate in enforcement of religious law.
On multiple occasions, NPF officers have arrested Hisbah members for trespassing when the latter have attempted to enter private property to enforce Sharia. And, in 2006, two senior Hisbah officers were detained by federal police and questioned on suspicion they were seeking foreign funding to train militants.
As of 2010 there were approximately 9,000 male and female officers of the Kano State Hisbah Corps.
The Kano State Hisbah court has extended its rule to some Northern States with high population of Muslims in Nigeria. Some regions in States like Kaduna and Kwara now have rules from the court that governs them. The court set up rules that bans women and girls from using Mobile phones and sunglasses amongst other things listed.
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