Kano State’s Islamic enforcement unit, the Hisbah Corps, has detained nine Muslim individuals for eating food during daylight hours on the opening day of the Ramadan fasting period in northern Nigeria.
The arrests took place on Wednesday in Kano, a region with a predominantly Muslim population where Sharia law operates alongside Nigeria’s secular legal framework. The detained group — seven men and two women — were reportedly spotted consuming food publicly, in contravention of the obligatory fasting rules observed by Muslims from sunrise to sunset throughout the holy month.
Deputy Commander General of the Hisbah, Mujahid Aminudeen, explained that the individuals claimed they were unaware that the Ramadan fast had commenced. He stated that they are currently being held by the corps for what was described as instruction on the significance of fasting, prayer, and reading the Quran to strengthen their religious commitment.
Hisbah patrols — including periodic checks of cafes, markets, and eateries — are an annual feature in Kano during Ramadan to ensure compliance with fasting norms. In previous years, those apprehended have been released after commitments to observe the fast, often with families involved in follow-up monitoring.
Ramadan, which began in Kano on February 18 this year, is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is considered sacred, commemorating the initial revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad. Fasting is one of the core pillars of Islam, and believers are required to abstain from food and drink from dawn until dusk throughout the period.
