In Kano, several young men have been detained for allegedly failing to observe the Ramadan fast. The arrests were made by operatives of the Hisbah Board, the state’s Islamic morality police, who are tasked with ensuring compliance with Sharia law.
The individuals were reportedly caught not fasting on the first day of Ramadan, which began on March 1, 2025. Dr. Mujahideen Abubakar, the Deputy Commander General of the Hisbah Board, confirmed the arrests and emphasized the Board’s commitment to upholding Sharia law throughout the Ramadan period.
In a separate operation, around 60 individuals were arrested for what the Hisbah Board described as “indecent haircuts,” claiming that the haircuts violated both Islamic law and local cultural norms. The board also detained commercial tricycle (Keke Napep) riders who were allegedly mixing male and female passengers in their vehicles, an act the Board has vowed to prohibit.
This follows a similar incident in March 2024 when the Kano State Hisbah Board’s Department of Public Enlightenment arrested at least 11 Muslims for eating during Ramadan fasting hours. Lawal Fagge, the Hisbah spokesman, confirmed that the detainees included 10 men and one woman. The woman was caught eating groundnuts from her wares, and the arrest was made after someone reported her. The other 10 individuals were arrested across various parts of the city, particularly near busy market areas where activity was high.
Fagge further explained that the individuals arrested were released after taking an oath not to intentionally skip fasting again. He also clarified that the Board’s operations would continue, although non-Muslims are exempt from these arrests, as the fasting requirement only applies to Muslims. However, non-Muslims could face penalties if they are found selling food to Muslims during the fasting period.
