The Kano State Hisbah Board has arrested 20 Muslims for eating and drinking in public during the ongoing Ramadan fast. The board also apprehended five individuals for selling food during fasting hours, which last from dawn to dusk.
The Deputy Commander of Hisbah, Mujahid Aminudeen, announced the arrests on Monday, stating that the board acted to uphold the sanctity of the holy month.
“It’s heartbreaking that in such a holy month meant for fasting, adult Muslims would be seen eating and drinking publicly. We won’t condone that, and that’s why we went out to make arrests,” he said.
Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and requires Muslims to fast from dawn to sunset for 29 or 30 days. This year, the fasting period is expected to end on Sunday, March 30, 2025.
Suspects to Face Legal Action
Aminudeen confirmed that all 25 suspects had been charged in a Sharia court, where they would face appropriate punishment. He emphasized that the Hisbah Board only targets Muslims violating Ramadan rules and does not concern itself with non-Muslims.
“We do not enforce fasting on non-Muslims. Our focus is on ensuring that those who are supposed to be observing the fast do not openly violate it,” he explained.
He also warned that the operation, which started at the beginning of Ramadan, would continue throughout the fasting period.
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More Arrests for Other Violations
Beyond enforcing Ramadan rules, the Hisbah Board has also taken action against individuals for violating Islamic dress codes and public conduct regulations.
According to Aminudeen, Hisbah officers have arrested people with “inappropriate haircuts,” those wearing shorts above the knee, and tricycle drivers who mix male and female passengers.
He revealed that the board receives reports from concerned residents and acts swiftly on such complaints.
“We do get calls from people who are enraged after seeing others eating in public, and we act fast by going to the area to make arrests,” he said.
No Leniency This Year
In previous years, some offenders were released after pledging to observe the fast, while others were handed over to their guardians for monitoring. However, Aminudeen stated that this year’s violators would not be spared and would face legal consequences.
“The law will take its course. We will ensure that offenders are appropriately dealt with,” he warned.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, officially declared the beginning of Ramadan on Saturday, following the sighting of the crescent moon on Friday, February 28.