The Kano State government has officially banned the “Independent Hisbah Fisabilillahi” group, declaring its activities illegal and a potential threat to public order. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf signed an Executive Order on December 8, 2025, citing the group’s unauthorized recruitment, training, and mobilization of youths as violations of the Kano State Hisbah Board Law.
Key Points of the Ban:
- No Parallel Structure: The government emphasizes that the Kano State Hisbah Board is the only legally recognized body for Hisbah activities.
Prohibited Actions: Recruiting, assembling, or training people for the group is now unlawful.
- Penalties: Violators face prosecution for unlawful assembly, impersonation, and unauthorized security operations.
- Security Measures: The Nigeria Police, DSS, and NSCDC are tasked with investigating promoters, halting activities, and preventing unrest.
– Public Appeal: Members are urged to disengage and report to authorities or Hisbah offices.
The move aims to safeguard public peace, as the government views the parallel group as a risk to security and the Hisbah Board’s mandate. According to Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi-Waiyya, the ban is backed by Section 5(2) of the 1999 Constitution, and the order takes immediate effect, pending formal gazetting ¹ ².
The Hisbah Corps in Kano is a legally recognized body enforcing Sharia provisions for Muslims, and the government warns that a parallel structure could undermine its authority and lead to abuses. Civil society groups had earlier condemned attempts to create such a group, citing risks to public order and the rule of law.
