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Governor Mutfwang Bans Hisbah Activities in Plateau, Orders Arrests
Governor Caleb Mutfwang has declared the activities of any group operating under the name or guise of Hisbah illegal in Plateau State and ordered security agencies to move against those involved.
The governor’s directive followed reports of the emergence of a group in parts of Jos North Local Government Area, where members were allegedly carrying out activities in the name of Hisbah.
Mutfwang said the group had no legal authority to enforce rules or exercise powers over residents in the state.
He also directed security agencies to investigate the group, identify its members and arrest anyone found to have violated the law.
The governor’s position was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere.
According to the statement, the administration took the decision after receiving reports of alleged intimidation, harassment, extortion and the imposition of rules on residents by persons operating under the Hisbah name.
Mutfwang warned those involved to stop immediately or face prosecution under Nigerian law.
The governor made it clear that Plateau State would not allow any organisation to create a parallel authority or act as a substitute for government agencies.
“Government will not permit the emergence of any parallel authority, self-appointed enforcement body or group seeking to impose rules, restrictions or sanctions on citizens.
“No individual or group has the authority to appoint itself the government of Plateau,” he said.
He stressed that law enforcement remained the responsibility of government institutions established under the Constitution and other applicable laws.
The governor therefore instructed the security agencies to step up intelligence gathering in the affected areas.
They are expected to establish the identity of those behind the reported activities and determine the extent of their operations.
Mutfwang also ordered that anyone found to be promoting, funding, assisting or supporting the alleged unlawful activities should be investigated.
Where evidence of wrongdoing is established, such persons are to be arrested and prosecuted.
The governor’s directive comes amid concerns over the activities of informal groups seeking to enforce religious or social rules outside the recognised security and legal structures.
Hisbah organisations operate in a number of northern states, including Kano, Katsina and Sokoto, although their legal frameworks and areas of operation differ from one state to another.
Mutfwang, however, maintained that the situation in Plateau was different because the group in question had not been authorised by the state government to perform any enforcement function.
He said no organisation could simply assume powers that had not been granted to it by law.
The governor further directed security agencies to ensure that residents in Jos North and other affected areas were protected from threats, harassment and unlawful demands.
He said residents must be allowed to go about their normal activities without interference from individuals claiming authority they do not possess.
Mutfwang also moved to prevent the issue from being interpreted as a religious confrontation.
He said the decision was based on the need to maintain law and order and was not aimed at any particular religion, ethnic group or community.
“Plateau remains home to people of diverse faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds. Every Plateau resident is entitled to equal protection under the law,” he said.
The governor said the government was concerned about conduct and lawful authority rather than the religious identity of the people involved.
He maintained that every resident had the right to worship freely, work, operate a legitimate business and live without intimidation.
“The issue before the Government is solely one of lawful conduct and legitimate authority. Every resident of Plateau 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,” he said.
Mutfwang also thanked residents who alerted government authorities to the reported activities.
He said the government would continue to treat credible security reports seriously and respond where necessary to protect residents.
The governor reiterated that the protection of lives, rights and lawful freedoms remained one of the primary responsibilities of his administration.
He also linked the latest directive to the need to preserve peaceful coexistence in Plateau, a state with a population made up of people from different religious and ethnic backgrounds.
The governor said the government would continue to uphold the rule of law and ensure that residents were treated equally.
In another development, the Plateau State Government had in May declared that the state was “at war with terrorists and enemies of the state” following a series of deadly attacks and announced tougher security measures across the state.
The Federal Government has issued a three-day weather forecast warning Nigerians to expect thunderstorms and rainfall across several parts of the country from Monday through Wednesday.
The warning was contained in the latest weather outlook released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) in Abuja.
According to the report, there will be varying degrees of rainfall across the northern, North-Central and southern regions.
NiMet also warned that strong winds could occur before thunderstorms in some areas, urging residents to take precautions as the rainy conditions develop.
According to the agency, parts of Taraba, Kebbi and Niger states are expected to experience morning thunderstorms and light rainfall on Monday. The southern region is expected to remain largely cloudy, with isolated showers possible in Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.
Later in the afternoon and evening, NiMet forecast moderate rainfall and scattered thunderstorms across the North-East, Kaduna, the North-Central region and several southern states.
The weather conditions are expected to continue into Tuesday, with thunderstorms and light-to-moderate rainfall forecast across most parts of the northern region.
NiMet also listed parts of the North-Central region, including the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Nasarawa and Plateau states, among areas that could experience thunderstorms and rainfall.
Several parts of the southern region are also expected to record rainfall on Tuesday, with similar weather conditions forecast to persist through Wednesday.
The agency warned that thunderstorms could be accompanied by strong winds, particularly before the onset of rainfall.
NiMet advised members of the public to secure loose objects around their homes and other locations because such objects could be blown away by strong winds.
It also urged motorists to exercise caution and avoid driving during periods of heavy rainfall, particularly when visibility is reduced or roads become difficult to navigate.
“Driving under heavy rain should be avoided,” the agency said.
Residents were further advised to stay away from tall trees during thunderstorms because strong winds could break branches or bring down trees.
NiMet also urged Nigerians to disconnect electrical appliances from power sockets during thunderstorms to reduce the risk associated with lightning and electrical surges.
“Disconnect electrical appliances from electrical sockets. Stay away from tall trees to avoid impact from falling branches and broken trees,” the agency said.
Airline operators were also advised to obtain site-specific weather information from NiMet to support safe planning of flight operations during the forecast period.
The latest forecast is similar to weather warnings previously issued by NiMet during the rainy season.
In a three-day forecast issued in August, the agency had also predicted thunderstorms and moderate rainfall across different parts of the country, with the affected areas varying from day to day.
During that period, NiMet forecast sunny conditions with patches of clouds and possible early morning thunderstorms across parts of the northern region. Light rainfall was expected in areas including Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Borno, Taraba and Adamawa states.
The agency subsequently predicted thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rainfall across several parts of the North later in the afternoon and evening.
For the North-Central region, the August outlook also included possible thunderstorms and moderate rainfall over parts of Kwara, Niger, Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory.
The southern region was expected to remain predominantly cloudy, with rainfall forecast in parts of Oyo, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River and Akwa Ibom in the morning and moderate rainfall expected in several other southern states later in the day.
The agency similarly forecast thunderstorms and rainfall across parts of the North and North-Central regions on the following days, while the southern states were expected to experience cloudy conditions and varying levels of rainfall.
NiMet’s latest warning comes as rainfall continues to pose risks to communities vulnerable to flooding and other weather-related hazards.
Residents in flood-prone locations are advised to remain alert, particularly where rainfall becomes prolonged or intense. Motorists are also expected to exercise caution on roads affected by flooding and avoid attempting to cross moving floodwater.
NiMet urged the public to continue monitoring official weather updates throughout the three-day period, particularly in areas where thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected.
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