Shariah Police, Hisbah Has Been Disbanded In Sokoto

Sokoto State government on Saturday, September 26, announced the disbandment of the Islamic police popularly known as Hisbah, Naija News reports.

The governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal led government of Sokoto made the disclosure on Saturday in a statement released by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Muhammad Bello.

According to Bello, the activities of the Hisbah was put on hold in the state following a 36-men committee inaugurated by governor Tambuwal to re-organize and harmonize the activities of Shariah police in the state. Naija News understands that there have been confusions over a few years now in the Hisbah board as three persons have so far presented themselves as the head of the Islamic corp committee in the state without the government’s approval.

Speaking during the inauguration of the committee, the governor noted that the 36-men committee is a necessity in other to have a legitimate structure that will perform the activities of the Hisba as provided by the law. Tambuwal urged the committee to look at the law establishing the Hisbah in the state in order to come out with a comprehensive report on what its statutory roles are.

The committee led by the Wazirin Sokoto, Prof. Sambo Wali Junaid includes the Permanent Secretary in the state’s Cabinet Affairs office, Alhaji Bande Rikina as the secretary.

Other members comprise of Islamic scholars, security agents, representatives of the Sultanate Council, civil society groups, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry for Justice, Women in Daawa, the Federation of Muslim Women Associations of Nigeria (FOMWAN), the Muslim Students Society (MSS) among others.

On his part, the Chairman of the committee, Prof. Junaid, expressed his gratitude to the governor for finding them worthy to serve in their capacity. He said they will do everything humanly possible to carry out their assignment effectively.

Waziri added that in the course of their assignment they will consult the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and other stakeholders for further advise and inputs.

Meanwhile, barely a month ago, Kano state chapter of the Islamic police, Hisbah arrested 648 street beggars in the state for violating an order by the state government which banned street begging.