Plateau State chapter of Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, has debunked allegations that an unnamed Muslim organisation has established a religious and moral enforcement group operating under the umbrella of the Hisbah Corps in Jos North Local Government Area of the state.

The JNI made the denial in a statement on Tuesday following outrage over allegations that members of the group had been involved in intimidation, harassment, extortion and the imposition of unauthorised rules and restrictions on residents in the affected areas.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang had also issued a statement rejecting the establishment of the Hisbah group, and ordered an immediate halt to its activities.

He directed security agencies to identify and investigate individuals involved in the reported activities.

Following the public outcry, the JNI, in a statement issued by the state secretary, Dr Salim Musa Umar, said it was not aware of any Islamic organisation planning to establish the Hisbah Corps in any part of Plateau State.

Umar said the group was aware of the controversy which originated on social media platforms, where some individuals allegedly used images generated by artificial intelligence to create the impression that a Hisbah organisation had been established in Jos North.

Umar, however, debunked the claims, saying no Islamic organisation had any plans to establish the Corps in the state. He clarified that an organisation such as Hisbah could not be legally established without enabling legislation passed by the State House of Assembly.

“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.

“The matter started on social media when some people appeared in uniforms created with the help of artificial intelligence, claiming that they had established Hisbah in Jos North. The information gained traction, and people began sharing it widely.

“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.

The JNI secretary also appealed to social media users to refrain from creating or circulating content capable of causing misunderstanding and disrupting peaceful coexistence in the state.

Former Super Eagles’ striker, Daniel Amokachi continues lending support in ongoing efforts to promote increased awareness about the need for proper attention to mental health, HIV, tuberculosis, personal hygiene and sexual activities among young girls, Sports247 reports.

The ex-international is supporting the lofty enlightenment campaign through his social development and human empowerment project in collaboration with Sports Bridge Foundation and Debriche Health Development Center (DHDC).

His latest effort was powered by officials of Daniel Amokachi Eduplus Foundation (DAEF) at the annual Sports Bridge Booth Camp, which focused on promoting physical well-being, emotional resilience, teamwork and healthy lifestyles among young female volleyball players.

Operating under the theme ‘Sports and Mental Health,’ the programme featured sessions on menstrual hygiene, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), HIV prevention, dangers of tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and reproductive rights.

Speaking during the programme, a member of DHDC, Dr. Omale Idoko stressed that abstinence remains the most effective way to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, then advised young girls to seek medical attention if they notice unusual symptoms.

The participants were further educated on the importance of maintaining good personal hygiene and obtaining information about reproductive health, while facilitators from Daniel Amokachi Eduplus Foundation also engaged the athletes in an interactive sesssion under the theme ‘Real People, Real Talk.’

Amokachi had previously pledged at the outset of the venture that he will fully back the campaign for youth mental health through football following his appointment as a United Nations Football for the Goals Champion, which he referred to as a call to greater service.

While pointing out that it strengthened his resolve to use the power of sport to support young people across the world, Amokachi promised to always join policymakers and youth advocates to explore how sport can advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and improve mental health globally.

“Our foundation has already been doing a lot of work on youth mental health. Football provides a powerful platform to educate, inspire and support young people, both on and off the pitch.

“Now that I have been appointed a United Nations Football for the Goals Champion, I am looking forward to working closely with the UN to understand its programme and identify areas where we can contribute even more.

“As a champion, I remain committed to protecting the mental health of players and athletes as they build their careers and become responsible members of society,” Amokachi submitted.

Sports247 reports further that the most recent engagement followed the foundation’s participation in the United Nations initiative tagged ‘One World, One Game, One Goal: Football for Youth Mental Health,’ which noted the importance of using sports to promote disease prevention among young people.