A rights group, Advocacy for Human Rights and Cultural Values for Development Initiative (AHRCVDI), has condemned the establishment of a parallel Hisbah group, known as “Hisba Independent Fisabilillahi,” in Kano State.
The executive director of AHRCVDI, Comrade Sambo Jibril Jada, responded to the issue yesterday in a statement he signed and made available to the media in Abuja.
Jada alleged that associates of a former governor of the state set up the parallel group.
“This action, reportedly spearheaded by former state officials, is a brazen and reckless attempt to create an illegal parallel security and moral policing architecture outside the constitutional and legal framework of Kano State.
“It constitutes a direct assault on the sovereignty of the state, the authority of its elected government, and the established rule of law. We view this development not as a religious initiative but as a dangerous political gambit with the potential to plunge Kano State into unprecedented chaos.
“The establishment of a rival enforcement body undermines the legally recognised Hisbah Commission, creates confusion among citizens, and sows the seeds for possible violent conflict between groups claiming authority,” he said.
Jada, therefore, listed some of the AHRCVDI’s concerns as: “Threat to Public Order and Security: The creation of this group is an act of sabotage against the peace and security of Kano State.
“It invites anarchy by promoting multiple, competing centres of enforcement power.
“Violation of the Rule of Law: No individual or group, regardless of their former status, is above the law.
“This initiative appears to have no legal backing from the current Kano State House of Assembly or the Executive, rendering it an illegitimate and unlawful association.
“High Risk of Human Rights Abuses: Unregulated and unaccountable vigilante groups inevitably lead to arbitrary arrests, intimidation, and the violation of citizens’ fundamental rights without due process or recourse,” he said.
The executive director called on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, to immediately issue a strong public statement declaring the group illegal and ordering its cessation.
“We call on the Nigerian Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and all relevant security agencies in Kano State to swiftly intervene.
“They must stop the operationalisation of this group, arrest its promoters for questioning, and investigate the full motives and funding behind this destabilising project.
“We urge the good people of Kano State to remain law-abiding, recognise only the duly constituted state authorities, and reject any attempts to be recruited into or coerced by this illegitimate body.
“Nobody is above the law. Allowing this group to proceed sets a dangerous precedent that political figures can create personal militias, which is a direct threat to our democracy and the safety of every citizen.
“We will be monitoring this situation closely and are prepared to take further legal and advocacy actions to ensure the preservation of peace and constitutional order in Kano State,” Jada concluded.
Credit: Leadership