The Sokoto State Hisbah Board has denied allegations that it is restricting Christian worship or imposing rules on church activities in the state, describing claims circulating on social media as false and misleading.
The Board said the allegations, attributed to a blogger identified as @radical.okoja.bia and others, did not reflect its mandate or activities and were capable of creating unnecessary religious tension in the state.
The Commandant of the Sokoto State Hisbah Board, Dr Usman Abdullahi Jatau, made the clarification in a statement issued on Saturday in Sokoto.
Jatau said the response was necessary to correct what he described as factual inaccuracies and prevent the spread of information capable of undermining religious harmony.
“Our response is not intended to please or offend anybody, but to correct factual inaccuracies, challenge unsupported assertions, and distinguish facts from malicious and fictitious misinterpretations,” he said.
The controversy followed social media claims alleging that the Hisbah Board had introduced restrictions affecting Christians and their worship practices in Sokoto State.
Among the allegations, according to the Board, was a claim that mixed gatherings of men and women were prohibited in churches and that Christian worship services were required to be conducted separately.
The claims further suggested that pastors were not permitted to sit with their wives during church services.
Another allegation linked the purported restrictions to a wider political and religious agenda to Islamise Nigeria, allegedly beginning with Sokoto and Plateau states before extending to the Southwest, Southeast and South-South regions.
However, Jatau dismissed the claims, saying they had no connection with the statutory responsibilities of the Hisbah Board.
He said the Sokoto State Hisbah Board had not issued any directive restricting Christian worship or regulating the internal activities of churches in the state.
The Commandant stressed that the legislation establishing the Hisbah Board was specifically directed at Muslims and did not extend to the religious practices of Christians or followers of other faiths.
According to him, the law establishing the board was enacted by the Sokoto State House of Assembly and clearly defines the scope of its activities.
Jatau said the board therefore had no mandate to determine how Christians conduct their worship, organise church services or interact during religious activities.
“The law establishing the Hisbah Board, as passed by the Sokoto State House of Assembly, affects only Muslims and has no bearing on the religious practices of Christians or adherents of other faiths,” he said.
The clarification is coming against the backdrop of recurring debates over the role and activities of Hisbah organisations in Northern Nigeria.
Hisbah bodies operate in several Northern states, with their responsibilities generally focused on promoting Islamic moral conduct among Muslims and supporting social order within the limits of state laws.
The Sokoto Hisbah Board said its statutory mandate should not be misrepresented as an attempt to interfere with the worship practices of other religious groups.
Jatau also rejected the attempt to link the Board with broader political arguments concerning the religious direction of Nigeria.
He accused the blogger and others circulating the claims of attempting to associate the Hisbah Board with political developments and the fortunes of political actors in the country.
“The blogger should continue his campaign for whichever party he is working for, but should not link the Sokoto State Hisbah Board with his assertions on the political fortune or misfortune of the country,” Jatau said.
The Commandant maintained that Sokoto remained a peaceful state where people of different religious backgrounds were expected to live together with dignity and mutual respect.
He said the board was interested in preserving peace and social harmony rather than creating divisions among religious communities.
Jatau urged residents and social media users to exercise caution before sharing claims about religious institutions, particularly allegations that could heighten tensions between Christians and Muslims.
He called on members of the public to disregard the allegations and rely on verified information concerning the activities and responsibilities of the Hisbah Board.
The Commandant further urged religious groups to continue promoting peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding across the state.
The issue is particularly sensitive because Sokoto has a predominantly Muslim population but is also home to Christian communities and institutions.
Religious harmony therefore remains important to maintaining stability and peaceful coexistence across the state.
The Hisbah Board said its response was intended to put the record straight and prevent what it described as fictitious interpretations from being presented as official government policy.
The Board did not announce any legal action against the blogger or other individuals responsible for circulating the allegations.
Instead, Jatau appealed to the public to focus on facts and avoid statements that could unnecessarily inflame religious sentiments.
He reiterated that the board’s activities must be understood within the framework of the law establishing it and that its mandate could not be extended to religious communities outside its jurisdiction.
The denial also comes amid heightened sensitivity around religious freedom and the activities of religious enforcement bodies across parts of Northern Nigeria.
Claims of restrictions on worship can quickly generate public concern, particularly when circulated through social media without accompanying evidence or official documentation.
The Hisbah Board’s clarification is therefore expected to address concerns among residents who may have encountered the allegations online.
Jatau said the board would remain committed to its responsibilities while respecting the rights and religious practices of other communities.
He urged Christians and Muslims in Sokoto to continue working together to preserve the peaceful atmosphere in the state.
The Commandant also called on residents to promote unity and mutual respect instead of spreading unverified information that could create suspicion between religious groups.
West Trybe reports that the Sokoto State Hisbah Board’s denial comes amid social media claims alleging restrictions on Christian worship and a wider Islamisation agenda. The Board said such claims were false and outside its statutory mandate, stressing that the law establishing it applies only to Muslims and does not regulate the religious practices of Christians or other faiths.
