The Kano State Hisbah Board Department of Public Enlightenment on Tuesday arrested at least 11 Muslims who were seen eating food during the Ramadan fast.
This was confirmed to BBC by Hisbah spokesman Lawal Fagge, adding the arrested erring Muslims were 10 men and one woman.
He claimed that they were released after swearing an oath that they would not purposely miss a fast again.
“We got 11 persons on Tuesday including a lady selling groundnuts who was seen eating from her wares and some persons alerted us,” Hisbah spokesman, Lawal Fagge, told the BBC.
“The other 10 were men and were arrested across the city especially close to markets where a lot of activities happen.”
He added that the search operations would continue but said that non-Muslims were exempt.
“We don’t arrest non-Muslims because this doesn’t concern them and the only time they could be guilty of a crime is when we find out they cook food to sell to Muslims that are supposed to be fasting.”
Regarding those who were arrested he said that they were freed after promising to start fasting from now on and “for some of them we had to see their relatives or guardians in order to have family monitor them.”
Recall that the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, announced Monday, March 11, 2024, as 1st Ramadan 1445AH and thus declared the commencement of fasting in the holy month in the country.
During the Holy Month of Ramadan, Muslims are expected to abstain from eating, drinking, sex and smoking during the daytime and other acts not allowed by the Holy Quran.
The Director-General of the Board, Abba Sai’Idu had also warned non-Muslim residents of the state against eating in public places during Ramadan Fasting.
He said it is unlawful for Christians and other non-Muslims to eat openly or do anything publicly that would undermine the Islamic religion or put those fasting into temptation by their actions.
The Hisbah Boss further stated that the enforcement team is now conducting more frequent patrols across the city to arrest any Muslim observed engaging in any practice that is not in accordance with Islamic culture during the holy month.
