Dare Babalola
The Kano State government has officially banned the Independent Hisbah Fisabilillahi group, declaring its operations illegal and a potential threat to public order and safety.
The government said the move aims to curb any parallel enforcement activities that could disrupt the state’s existing regulatory framework.
Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State signed an executive order on December 8, officially proscribing the new group.
The state government said it uncovered attempts by the group to recruit, train, and mobilise youths without lawful authority, in violation of the existing Kano State Hisbah Board Law.
Speaking with journalists late Friday, Ibrahim Waiya, the commissioner for information and internal affairs, said the board is the only legally recognised institution authorised to coordinate Hisbah-related duties in the state.
“The emergence of a parallel group amounts to creating an unauthorised enforcement structure capable of undermining public peace and the statutory mandate of the Board,” Waiya said.
The commissioner said the order declares all activities of the group “unlawful, illegal and void”, noting that any impersonation of the Hisbah board’s uniform, symbols, or authority will attract sanctions.
He said the governor has directed the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other security agencies to investigate the promoters and take lawful steps to prevent a breakdown of order.
Waiya warned the public against participating in, supporting, or affiliating with the proscribed group, as it violates state law.
He urged individuals already recruited to disengage and report to the nearest security agency, Hisbah office, or local government authority.
The order also outlines penalties for offenders, including prosecution for unlawful assembly, impersonation, and establishment of unauthorised security formations, and takes immediate effect, with gazetting by the state government printer.
