In Kano, northern Nigeria, the Islamic police ( Hisbah ) arrested nine individuals, including two women, on the first day of Ramadan. They are accused of eating during fasting hours, a practice prohibited by Sharia law in force in that state.

Strict monitoring during Ramadan

For over two decades, the state of Kano has operated a hybrid legal system where Islamic law coexists with secular law. During the holy month, the Hisbah increases patrols in markets, restaurants, and public spaces to ensure compliance with religious requirements.

In their defense, the people arrested claimed that they were unaware that the month of Ramadan had officially begun .

Punishment or education?

The deputy commander of the Hisbah, Mujahid Aminudeen , presented these arrests from an educational rather than a purely repressive perspective. According to him, the detention aims to:

1. Teaching the spiritual importance of fasting.
2. To instill the basics of prayer and reading the Quran.
3. To support the faithful so that they become "better Muslims".

However, this approach is not unanimously supported within the Nigerian Muslim community, with some questioning the severity of these measures.

A reminder of the rules of fasting

As a reminder, fasting during Ramadan is obligatory for every healthy, pubescent Muslim. It requires abstaining from eating, drinking, and sexual relations from dawn until sunset. However, exemptions exist for:

1. The sick and the travellers.
2. Prepubescent children.
3. Pregnant women, breastfeeding women, or women who are menstruating.

Contextual note: For the year 2026, Ramadan began on February 18 in most West African countries. The month of spirituality is expected to end around March 19, giving way to the Eid al-Fitr celebrations around March 20.