Islamic Group Speaks on Establishment of Hisbah in Plateau

The Plateau State chapter of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has dismissed reports that an Islamic organisation established a Hisbah Corps to enforce religious and moral rules in parts of Jos North Local Government Area of the state.

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‎News reports the group described the claims as false and insisted that no Islamic organisation in the state had initiated plans to establish Hisbah or any similar enforcement body.

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‎The clarification came amid growing public concern over claims that individuals operating under the name “HISBA” had allegedly been intimidating residents, harassing people, extorting money and imposing unauthorised restrictions in some communities.

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‎Recall that  Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State had earlier ordered an immediate end to the activities of the group, describing its operations as illegal and unauthorised.

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‎The governor also directed security agencies to identify and investigate those behind the activities and arrest anyone found to have committed criminal offences.

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‎Mutfwang, through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Gyang Bere, warned against the emergence of parallel authorities or self-appointed enforcement organisations in the state.

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‎He maintained that the enforcement of laws remained the responsibility of constitutionally recognised authorities and that no individual or organisation had the right to assume powers not granted by law.

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‎According to the governor, Plateau State operates under one Constitution, one legal system and one legitimate authority.

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‎He stressed that the government’s directive was not targeted at any religion, ethnic group or community but was aimed at ensuring that all residents operated within the law.

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‎The governor further directed security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering and protect residents from alleged intimidation, harassment, extortion and other forms of unlawful coercion.

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‎Amid the controversy, the JNI secretary in Plateau, Dr Salim Musa Umar, said the organisation had investigated the claims and found no basis for reports that a Hisbah Corps was being established

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‎In a statement released on Tuesday, Umar said the controversy appeared to have originated from social media, where images allegedly generated using artificial intelligence were circulated to create the impression that a Hisbah group had been inaugurated in Jos North.

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‎“I want to assure the people that no Islamic organisation in Plateau has come out to say it wants to establish Hisbah. There is nothing like that. It has never been discussed, and it is not part of what is being considered,” Umar said.

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‎He explained that the establishment of a Hisbah organisation would require legal backing from the Plateau State House of Assembly, stressing that no religious body could unilaterally create such an enforcement institution.

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‎“Hisbah cannot be established without a law from the State House of Assembly, and the government has not done that. Therefore, people cannot simply come out and claim that they have established Hisbah,” he added.

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‎The JNI official urged residents to disregard the reports and appealed to social media users to stop creating and circulating unverified content capable of inflaming tensions or undermining peaceful coexistence in Plateau State.

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