The government said the group is not recognised under state law and its activities could threaten public order.
The Kano State government has issued an Executive Order banning a group calling itself “Independent Hisbah Fisabilillahi”, declaring the organisation illegal and unlawful.
The government said the group is not recognised under state law and its activities could threaten public order.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf signed the executive order.
The Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi-Waiyya, confirmed the ban during a press briefing, adding that the governor invoked his constitutional powers under Section 5(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers state executives to maintain public peace and enforce state laws. Independent Newspaper Nigeria.
According to the state government, individuals were recruiting and organising people under the name Independent Hisbah Fisabilillahi without lawful authority.
This amounted to the creation of a parallel and unauthorised enforcement body that could undermine the statutory Hisbah Board — the only legally recognised body for such duties in Kano.
The government said only the official Kano State Hisbah Board is recognised by law to coordinate Hisbah duties across the state.
The executive order states that forming, promoting, recruiting for, or operating any parallel Hisbah or similar group is illegal and void.
Governor Yusuf directed security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) to "investigate the organisers and sponsors of the banned group. Halt all recruitment, mobilisation, training, and mobilisation activities related to it.
The government warned that: "joining, supporting, or affiliating with the group is a violation of state laws.
"Individuals already approached or recruited should disengage immediately and report to security agencies or the nearest Hisbah office."
The Hisbah Corps in Kano is a religious police force established under state law to enforce Sharia provisions for Muslims in the state.
It operates under legal recognition and has been involved in enforcing moral and public order codes.
Civil society groups had earlier condemned attempts to create a parallel Hisbah group, stating it posed risks to public order, the rule of law, and could lead to abuses or conflict between enforcement bodies.