By Correspondent in Abuja.
The Advocacy for Human Rights and Cultural Values for Development Initiative (AHRCVDI) has strongly condemned the alleged establishment of a parallel Hisbah organisation in Kano State known as “Hisba Independent Fisabilillahi.”
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the Executive Director of AHRCVDI, Comrade Sambo Jibril Jada, described the move as illegal, dangerous, and capable of destabilising public order in the state.
Jada alleged that the group was created by associates of a former governor of Kano State, calling the action “a brazen and reckless attempt to set up an unlawful security and moral policing structure outside the constitutional framework of the state.”
According to him, the development amounts to “a direct assault on the sovereignty of Kano State, the authority of its elected government, and the established rule of law.”
He warned that the establishment of a rival enforcement body is not a religious initiative but “a dangerous political gambit” capable of plunging the state into chaos.
“The creation of this group undermines the legally recognised Hisbah Commission, confuses citizens, and creates fertile ground for violent clashes between competing authorities,” he said.
Jada outlined AHRCVDI’s major concerns, including:
• Threat to Public Order and Security:
The emergence of the parallel group, he said, represents an act of sabotage that could invite anarchy by encouraging multiple, competing enforcement bodies.
• Violation of the Rule of Law:
He noted that the reported initiative has no backing from the Kano State House of Assembly or the Executive, making it illegal and unconstitutional.
• High Risk of Human Rights Abuses:
Jada warned that unregulated vigilante groups often engage in arbitrary arrests, intimidation, and violations of fundamental rights without accountability.
He called on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to promptly issue a public statement declaring the group illegal and ordering it to cease operations.
Jada also urged the Nigerian Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies in the state to intervene swiftly by halting the activities of the group, questioning its promoters, and investigating its motives and sources of funding.
He encouraged residents of Kano State to remain law-abiding and to recognise only constitutionally established authorities.
“Allowing this group to operate would set a dangerous precedent that political figures can create personal militias, posing a grave threat to democracy and public safety,” he said.
Jada added that AHRCVDI would continue to monitor developments and is prepared to take further legal and advocacy actions to safeguard peace and constitutional order in the state.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
