Yobe Hisbah Issues Sallah Guidelines: Public Gatherings and “Inappropriate Interactions” Banned

The Yobe State Hisbah Commission has announced a ban on male-female interactions, night gatherings, and public events across Yobe State, citing security concerns and the need to uphold Islamic moral standards.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Executive Chairman of the commission, Yahuza Hamza Abubakar, said the directive takes immediate effect.

He described activities such as inappropriate interactions between men and women, reckless driving, and late-night gatherings as practices that conflict with Islamic teachings and violate the laws guiding the state.

According to him, the move aligns with the commission’s mandate to enforce moral conduct under Shari’a law, stressing that all Sallah-related events and public gatherings deemed inconsistent with Islamic values have been suspended.

Abubakar warned that owners and operators of event centres must comply fully with the directive or risk facing sanctions.

He also called on community leaders, parents, youth groups, and other stakeholders to support the enforcement of the order and ensure adherence within their communities.

The commission reiterated that any public activity considered contrary to Islamic moral teachings or the legal framework guiding the state is strictly prohibited.

It added that the measures form part of its ongoing responsibility to regulate public behaviour and promote lawful conduct under Shari’a law.

The statement also conveyed assurances from the state government under the leadership of Mai Mala Buni.

The development comes amid heightened efforts by states in Nigeria’s North-East to strengthen security and enforce regulations during festive periods to ensure peaceful celebrations.

The Hisbah Commission, a government-backed body, is tasked with enforcing Islamic moral codes and ensuring compliance with Shari’a-based regulations in the state, particularly in areas such as public conduct, social interactions, and community events.

Similar institutions operate in several northern states where Shari’a law exists alongside the conventional legal system, focusing on promoting moral discipline, curbing social vices, and regulating activities considered inconsistent with Islamic principles.

In recent years, such bodies have introduced restrictions during major Islamic celebrations like Eid-el-Fitr and Eid-el-Kabir, often targeting public gatherings, entertainment activities, and gender interactions in a bid to maintain order and religious compliance.

Yobe State, like other states in the North-East, has also faced ongoing security challenges linked to insurgency, prompting authorities to combine moral enforcement with precautionary safety measures during major festivities.

However, such directives have occasionally sparked public debate, particularly around concerns over personal freedoms, the scope of enforcement, and the balance between religious norms and constitutional rights in a diverse society.