Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Kano, Nigeria — The Kano State Government has moved decisively to outlaw a self-styled religious policing outfit known as “Independent Hisbah Fisabilillahi,” declaring its activities illegal and a threat to public order under state law. The ban, which took effect immediately upon the signing of an executive order on December 8, 2025, underscores the government’s determination to centralise enforcement authority and prevent the emergence of parallel security structures that could undermine peace and legal governance in Africa’s most populous state.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, acting under constitutional powers to maintain public peace and uphold state statutes, signed the executive directive prohibiting the recruitment, mobilisation, training and deployment of any group operating under the name “Independent Hisbah Fisabilillahi” or similar formations. The order explicitly bars individuals or organisations from establishing, promoting or participating in any unauthorised Hisbah-like body outside the statutory Kano State Hisbah Board, which remains the only legally recognised entity for such functions in the state.
At a press briefing in Kano, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, emphasised that the state government was compelled to act after credible information emerged indicating attempts to recruit and mobilise youths into the independent group without lawful authority or legislative backing. He described these activities as creating a parallel enforcement structure capable of eroding public peace and infringing on the statutory mandate of the existing Hisbah Board.
“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,” Commissioner Waiya said, reiterating that all activities of the Independent Hisbah Fisabilillahi are now “unlawful, illegal and void.”
The executive order directs security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other relevant bodies, to investigate the organisers and sponsors of the banned group, halt ongoing activities linked to it, and take all lawful measures necessary to prevent any breach of peace that could result from its operations.
State authorities warned the public that participation in, support for, or affiliation with the proscribed group constitutes a violation of Kano State laws. Individuals already recruited or approached for recruitment were urged to disengage immediately and report to the nearest security agency, Hisbah office, or local government authority. Violators could face prosecution for offences including unlawful assembly, impersonation of lawful authorities and the establishment of unauthorised enforcement groups.
For decades, the Hisbah Board in Kano has operated as a legally backed religious policing force responsible for enforcing moral codes and aspects of Sharia law among the predominantly Muslim population. Its mandate includes ensuring compliance with dress codes, prohibitions on alcohol sales and consumption, and other community standards codified under state law. The board functions within a statutory framework established and regulated by the Kano State House of Assembly, a structure that authorities say the independent group lacked.
The decision to proscribe the Independent Hisbah Fisabilillahi follows growing tensions over efforts by individuals associated with political figures to establish alternative enforcement entities. Civil society organisations had earlier raised alarms over the emergence of a parallel Hisbah group, warning that such a structure could spark confusion, erode the rule of law and heighten the risk of clashes between rival authorities on issues of enforcement and community regulation.
One rights advocacy group, the Advocacy for Human Rights and Cultural Values for Development Initiative (AHRCVDI), condemned the alleged formation of the parallel Hisbah organisation as “a brazen and reckless attempt to set up an unlawful security and moral policing structure outside the constitutional framework of the state.” It argued that allowing a rival body to operate would undermine the sovereignty of Kano’s elected government, confuse citizens about lawful authority and potentially lead to human rights abuses by unregulated vigilante elements.
Critics of the independent group also voiced concerns that unregulated enforcement outfits historically face little accountability, increasing the likelihood of arbitrary actions, intimidation and violations of fundamental freedoms. Such risks, they contend, could exacerbate existing tensions in the state and lead to broader instability if left unchecked.
Governor Yusuf’s executive order does not single out individuals by name, but observers note that the move appears to respond to recent reports linking the proposed independent group with associates of a former state governor. Political commentators suggest that the controversy reflects broader struggles for influence within Kano’s complex socio-religious and political landscape, where enforcement of moral codes intersects with governance, community identity and power dynamics.
The ban has reignited debate across Nigeria about the role of religious policing and the challenges of integrating traditional values with constitutional law in a secular federal republic. While supporters of the government’s action argue that centralising authority under the statutory Hisbah board will promote consistency, accountability and public safety, others warn that lasting stability hinges on transparent legal frameworks, robust oversight and respect for civil liberties.
In urging calm, authorities appealed to residents to uphold the rule of law and work within the legal system to address grievances or concerns. They also stressed that safeguarding public order and protecting constitutional mandates remain top priorities for the Kano State Government, especially in a context where multiple layers of governance and community expectations intersect.
The prohibition of the Independent Hisbah Fisabilillahi marks a significant moment in Kano’s governance, reflecting both the state’s effort to enforce legal norms and the broader challenges of managing religious and civic authority in a diverse and populous region of Nigeria.
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