Some Nigerians, both Muslims and Christians have condemned an act by the Kano State Hisbah Board Department of Public Enlightenment who on Tuesday arrested at least 11 Muslims who were seen eating food during the Ramadan fast.
Gistreel reports that on Monday, March 11, 2024, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, declared that the fasting for the holy month of Ramadan would begin in Nigeria.
The Muslims are expected to abstain from eating, drinking, sex and smoking during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
The arrest of the Muslims seen eating was confirmed to BBC by Hisbah spokesman Lawal Fagge, who revealed that 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.”
Reacting to the arrest of the Muslims, Nigerians on social media said;
@Halfvirginia wrote: “Do we have two constitution in Nigeria or is there any law against eating in public in Nigeria. Why’s the government afraid of these people?”
@Chrisdaramola: “Good, what n0nsense? Were they not aware there is ramadan fast? nobody should plead for the individuals o”
@RadicalYouthMan: “This kind of thing is funny ooo… So in an Islamic state, I will be arrested for eating food during Ramadan ? Everyday I see more reason not to belong to any religion”
@Henrie089; “Na by force to fast? If they have health issues nko? What is all these?”
@imarahoo; “Why is this Hisbah not helping to protect Muslims from attackers ?We hear of mosques being blown, and people killed across the North. Shouldn’t Hisbah also learn to protect the people to whom they enforce religious restrictions?”
