Beatrice Gondyi, Bauchi
The Bauchi State Hisbah Department says it has received and resolved over 1,500 complaints in the past six months, even as it grapples with growing operational and public challenges in its efforts to enforce Islamic moral codes across the state.
In an exclusive intervie with SPEAR NEWS, the Acting Commander of Hisbah, Malam Mohammed Mohammed Bununu, stated that the agency remains committed to its mission despite challenges, recording significant achievements in mediation, particularly in marriage disputes, inheritance, family affairs, business transactions, and public complaints.
“We have seven panels that sit and decide on cases. We have a system that fast-tracks procedures better than the courts. We can complete a case in one sitting—this is an achievement,” Bununu said.
He explained that Hisbah’s duties are categorized into two main areas: reconciliation and operational patrols. Reconciliation handles complaints, including those from Christians or non-Muslims against Muslims, often involving failed business transactions, while operations focus on patrols and arrests, primarily targeting social vices.
“Our uniformed personnel mainly conduct patrols and arrests in areas where crimes and illegal activities occur,” he added.
The Bauchi Hisbah Board, like its counterparts in other states, faces severe underfunding. Bununu lamented the lack of adequate patrol vehicles, communication radios, and even office furniture in some local government areas.
“We are also asking for more funding because our operations are vast. We have to cover the entire state, but we cannot do so effectively due to financial constraints,” he said.
In recent weeks, Hisbah officers in Bauchi have intensified operations against shops selling alcohol.
“It is our duty by law to clamp down on those engaging in social vices, as these often lead to crime. We confiscated crates of beer because Bauchi law prohibits the sale and consumption of alcohol. The only exceptions are police barracks, army barracks, and designated national or international tourism spots,” Bununu explained.
Despite limited resources, Bununu reiterated Hisbah’s commitment to making Bauchi a “morally sound state” but called for more government support to meet public expectations.
“We urge the governor to expedite the establishment of the Hisbah Board. This will come with enabling laws, which we currently lack. The governor has already set up a committee for this purpose, and we hope it becomes a reality soon,” he said.
Despite challenges, the Hisbah Department under the Sharia Commission, plans to expand community outreach programs and strengthen collaboration with other security agencies.
Sometimes, they refer cases to us, and we also take cases to them. We work closely with the police, civil defense, NAPTIP, and the Human Rights Commission. Our achievements so far are largely due to this cooperation,” Bununu noted.
With no intention of slowing down, the Bauchi Hisbah Board remains determined to uphold its mandate, even as it seeks more institutional and financial backing.
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