The Kano State government, led by Abba Kabir Yusuf, issued a comprehensive Executive Order yesterday prohibiting the establishment and functioning of any unauthorized Hisbah-like organizations within the state.
The decree, entitled “Kano State Government (Prohibition of the Independent Hisbah Fisabilillahi) Order 2025,” was executed by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and publicly announced by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, at a press conference.
The executive order derives its authority from Section 5(2) of the revised 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which confers executive powers upon the state governor, encompassing the duty to uphold public order and implement state legislation, according to Saturday Independent.
The commissioner stated that the government conveyed significant apprehension regarding the emergence of individuals and groups engaged in the recruitment, mobilization, and organization of persons into a body referred to as ‘Independent Hisbah Fisabilillahi’, lacking lawful authority and in violation of the Laws of Kano State.
Waiya stated that such efforts constitute the establishment of “parallel, unauthorized enforcement structures within the State,” which the government considers “an unlawful act that can disrupt the peace” and undermine the statutory powers of the Kano State Hisbah Board.
He asserted that the ruling explicitly states that “the establishment of Independent Hisbah Fisabilillahi is illegal and is forbidden from functioning or engaging in any activities within the State.”
The government reaffirmed the exclusive authority of the Kano State Hisbah Board, stating it “shall remain the sole legally recognized institution in the State” for coordinating Hisbah-related activities. Any imitation of the Board’s authority, uniforms, insignia, or activities is now formally prohibited.
The order mandates all pertinent security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, to investigate the organizers and sponsors of the proscribed group, cease all associated activities, and implement lawful measures to avert any disruption of peace.
Commissioner Waiya issued a grave warning to the public, stating that “participation in, support for, or affiliation with the Independent Hisbah Fisabilillahi constitutes a violation of the laws of Kano State.” Individuals who have been recruited or solicited for recruitment are advised to “disengage immediately and report to the nearest Security Agencies Division, Hisbah Office, or Local Government Authority.”
He stated that violators of the order will be prosecuted under relevant legislation for offenses such as unlawful assembly, impersonation of legitimate authorities, and the formation of unauthorized enforcement organizations. The phrase “Independent Hisbah Fisabilillahi” is comprehensively defined as encompassing “any group, unit, committee, movement, or entity established to execute Hisbah-like enforcement activities beyond the official Hisbah Board.”
The executive order is effective immediately and will be published by the Kano State Government Printer. On December 8, 2025, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf executed the edict, signifying a crucial advancement in the state’s initiative to centralize religious enforcement under legal authority and avert the emergence of alternative vigilante organizations.
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