The Katsina State Hisbah Board has described its operations as vital to the well-being of society, stressing that its interventions are aimed at promoting morality and fostering peaceful coexistence across the state.
The Commander of the Board, Dr. Aminu Usman (popularly known as Abu Ammar), made the remarks on Thursday during a press conference themed “Hisbah Board: Policies, Operations, and Achievements Across Katsina State”. The event was attended by media organisations including Taskar Labarai and Katsina Times.
Dr. Usman traced the establishment of the Hisbah Board to persistent calls from residents of Katsina, including academics, clerics, business leaders, and other stakeholders, for a structured institution to safeguard moral values. He recalled that under former Governor Aminu Masari, a committee was set up which led to the passage of a law establishing the board, later signed into effect. The current administration of Governor Dikko Radda, he added, has fully implemented the framework.
Upon his appointment as Commander, Dr. Usman said he consulted scholars and traditional leaders in both Katsina and Daura to ensure broad-based cooperation. According to him, the board represents all segments of the Muslim community in the state.
“The Katsina State Hisbah is a collective institution. Every group within the Muslim community has representation in this board,” he stated.
One of the earliest policies, he noted, was the ban on DJs at public events, which he described as a challenging regulation given its popularity among youths. Other measures gradually introduced include restrictions on indecent hairstyles, gambling, multiple female passengers on motorcycles, carrying women in front of tricycles, as well as monitoring entertainment houses and curbing immoral activities.
Highlighting the board’s achievements, Dr. Usman pointed to the reconciliation of over 6,000 marital disputes, which he described as a major success. He also disclosed that more than 500 women and girls previously found in questionable circumstances were returned to their families, with some subsequently married off through arrangements facilitated in partnership with the Hawwa Radda Foundation.
The Commander further noted the board’s involvement in resolving debt disputes, inheritance conflicts, and neighbourhood quarrels, including cases involving Christian residents, which he said underscored the board’s credibility across communities.
Dr. Usman clarified that the Hisbah Board does not usurp the duties of other security or legal agencies. “Whenever we apprehend offenders, we hand them over to the appropriate authorities. Our role is supportive, not to interfere in the mandates of other institutions,” he explained.
The Hisbah Commander urged residents of Katsina to continue supporting the board’s mission to eradicate social vices.
“We are working for the sake of God, to build a society rooted in good morals and mutual respect. Hisbah’s mandate is directly tied to safeguarding public morality, through promoting what is right and discouraging what is harmful,” he reiterated.
