Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-rufai has punctured a news report making rounds that Hisbah has prohibited ladies from using mobile phones and sunglasses in Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
The report by an online news platform also says that the youths are punished for keeping afro hair.
“Hisbah is punishing youths for keeping afro hair and sometimes it is accompanied with beating. They have also prevented women and girls from using smartphones, claiming that it is used to spread unIslamic behaviours. They are just terrorising us,” one source told the platform.
Reacting to the report, El-rufai said that Kaduna State doesn’t have Hisbah.
“There is no hisbah in Kaduna State. If there is criminal conduct anywhere, a responsible medium should report it accurately, not coat it in religion or use events and photos from other states to prop up a false story,” he tweeted.
He went on to list the agencies in the state responsible for community security.
“The Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Authority (KASTLEA) and the Kaduna State Vigilance Service (KADVS) are the only KDSG agencies with direct law enforcement and community level security mandates. All other official agencies in the sector are federal,” he added.
Possessing mobile phones and sunglasses have been banned on ladies and girls by officials of Hisbah in Kuriga Village under Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
Oriental Times had reported that a resident of the community, who spoke with newsmen, raised the alarm over the increasing repressive activities of the religious police in the region.
He alleged that Hisbah had been ‘frustrating the lives of youths in Kuriga and often carry our severe punishment for moral failings’.
“Hisbah is punishing youths for keeping afro hair and sometimes it is accompanied with beating.
“They have also prevented women and girls from using smartphones, claiming that it is used to spread unIslamic behaviours. They are just terrorising us,” he told SaharaReporters.
Another resident of the town also said Hisbah personnel have prohibited women and girls from using sunglasses.
“They also sometimes storm houses where ceremonies are taking place and punish playing of music, dancing and any form of entertainment,” he said.