Saturday, March 8, 2025 - The Kano State Hisbah Board has raided and shut down a sports betting shop as part of its ongoing enforcement efforts during the holy month of Ramadan.
The Hisbah officials shared images of operatives sealing the premises on
its official Facebook page.
The Deputy Commander of Hisbah in Kano, Sheikh Mujahideen Aminudeen,
also confirmed the crackdown while speaking to journalists.
He explained that the raid was carried out in compliance with Kano
state’s strict Sharia laws.
“E tok say, di commission manage close di
shop after dem do raid for di place,” BBC Pidgin quoted Aminudeen as
saying.
He lamented that some Muslims continue to engage in gambling despite the
sacred nature of the Ramadan period.
“E add say e pain am as some Muslims still
dey go dat kind place go dey gamble, even as Ramadan fasting dey go on,” the
report further stated.
Kano, along with 11 other northern states, officially adopted Sharia law
in 2000, banning prostitution, gambling, alcohol consumption, and other
activities deemed to contradict Islamic teachings.
This latest raid comes just days after SaharaReporters reported that the
Hisbah Board had detained 20 Muslims for eating and drinking in public during
fasting hours. The board also arrested five others for selling food in broad
daylight while Muslims were expected to observe the Ramadan fast.
The Deputy Commander of Hisbah, Mujahid Aminudeen, disclosed the number
of arrests on Monday, stating that, “It’s
heartbreaking that in such a holy month meant for fasting, adult Muslims would
be seen eating and drinking publicly. We won’t condone that, and that’s why we
went out to make arrests.”
According to Aminudeen, all 25 suspects will be tried in a Sharia court
and face the necessary penalties.
He stressed that Hisbah’s enforcement strictly targets Muslims, noting
that “It is important to note that we don’t concern ourselves with
non-Muslims.”
The crackdown is part of a broader effort
by Hisbah to maintain religious discipline during Ramadan, with operations
extending beyond food consumption.
The board has also been targeting
individuals with so-called "indecent" haircuts, people dressed in
shorts above the knee, and commercial tricycle riders who mix male and female passengers.
Aminudeen stated that Hisbah frequently acts on reports from concerned
residents who alert them about violations.
“We do get calls from people who are enraged after seeing people eating in
public, and we act fast by going to the area to make arrests,” he said.
0 Comments