Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has warned a group allegedly acting as Hisbah in Jos, the state’s capital to desist or face the wrath of the law.
Hisbah, the governor said is not permitted in the state, describing the activity of the group to be against the Constitution of the state and Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The governor’s remark was contained in a statement issued by Dr Gyang Bere, his Director of Press and Public Affairs, warning that any group acting as a parallel authority to the state government will be met with a strong response from his government.
The state helmsman spoke after the group was alleged to be extorting and harassing the residents of the state and forcing them to adhere to Islamic sharia rules despite the fact that the North Central state is among the few states in the Northern Nigeria not being governed by the Islamic legal codes.
No fewer than 12 states in the region, dominated by muslims had signed to the Islamic jurisprudence amid protest that it’s against the Nigerian Constitution.
Plateau is a Christian dominated state.
According to Governor Mutfwang, the state government will no sit by and allow any group to harass the residents, saying his government is not targeting any religion, but will protect those living in the state regardless of their religion, ethnicity and backgrounds, by ensuring that everybody is treated equally under the rule of law.
He directed security agencies to arrest those parading themselves as Hisbah, saying resident of the state has the right to live, worship, work, conduct lawful business and go about their daily activities without intimidation or interference from any self-appointed authority.
“Plateau State has a proud tradition of peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds. Governor Mutfwang will continue to defend that tradition by ensuring that peace is protected, citizens are treated equally, and the rule of law remains supreme,” the governor stated.
The development, the magazine reports, is coming after reports that tension was rising in Sokoto state following alleged plan by the Hisbah Police in the state to force Christian worshipers to adhere to sharia law which requires male and female worshipers to adopt notable distance during worship.
The state government has denied the report, saying Hisbah is not after Christians.
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