The Kano State Hisbah Board has banned the mobile movie downloading business, popularly known as “downloading,” across the state’s 44 local government areas, saying the activity promotes the circulation of content that violates Islamic teachings, cultural values and public morality.
The Acting Commander-General of the board, Mujahid Aminuddeen, announced the ban in a voice message sent to journalists on Wednesday, warning operators to shut down the business immediately or face prosecution.
The development comes amid renewed efforts by the Kano State Government and the Hisbah Board to enforce regulations aimed at promoting moral values and ensuring compliance with Islamic principles in the predominantly Muslim state. In recent years, the board has introduced several measures targeting activities it considers inconsistent with Sharia-based social norms.
Aminuddeen said investigations conducted by the board showed that operators of the business were distributing films and videos containing materials considered offensive to religion, local culture and acceptable moral standards.
“Our findings show that this business contributes to the spread of films and videos that contain content contrary to religion, our culture and good morals. That is why we have decided to stop the business to protect young people from moral decay and reduce the circulation of harmful content,” Aminuddeen said.
He directed all operators to comply with the directive immediately, warning that the board would begin enforcement across the state without delay.
“We are calling on all operators of this business to comply with this directive. Anyone caught violating the ban will face the full weight of the law,” he added.
According to Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim the Hisbah chief, the enforcement exercise will cover all 44 local government areas of Kano State as part of the board’s broader campaign against activities it considers harmful to society.
The board urged residents to support the directive by reporting any operator who continues the business despite the ban, insisting that collective action was necessary to safeguard public morality.
West Trybe reports that the Kano State Hisbah Board has repeatedly taken regulatory actions against activities it says undermine Islamic values and public decency, with enforcement extending to entertainment, social conduct and commercial practices across the state.
