Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has declared the activities of any group operating under the guise of Hisbah illegal in the state, warning that anyone attempting to operate as a parallel authority will face the full weight of the law.
Mutfwang made the declaration in a statement issued on Sunday in Jos by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Gyang Bere.
The governor’s directive followed the emergence of a group in Jos North Local Government Area allegedly conducting activities in the name of Hisbah.
Hisbah organisations operate legally in some northern states, including Kano, Katsina and Sokoto, where their activities have received varying forms of government recognition.
However, Mutfwang said Plateau State would not allow any group to assume the functions of a parallel security or enforcement agency without lawful authorisation.
He warned members of the group against harassing or intimidating residents, extorting money from citizens or imposing unlawful rules and sanctions.
“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.
The governor stressed that the enforcement of laws remained the responsibility of duly constituted authorities operating within Nigeria’s legal framework.
He disclosed that he had directed security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering and undertake lawful operations to identify individuals involved in the reported activities.
Mutfwang also ordered the security agencies to protect residents from intimidation, harassment, extortion and other forms of unlawful coercion.
The governor emphasised that the directive was not targeted at any religion, ethnic group or community, noting the diverse nature of Plateau State.
“Plateau remains home to people of diverse faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds. Every Plateau resident is entitled to equal protection under the law,” he said.
He explained that the issue was strictly about lawful conduct and legitimate authority, rather than religious or ethnic identity.
According to him, every resident of the state has the right to live, worship, work and conduct lawful businesses without interference from self-appointed authorities.
Mutfwang consequently directed security agencies to identify and investigate persons involved in the reported activities and prosecute anyone found culpable.
He further ordered the arrest and prosecution of anyone found to be promoting, sponsoring, aiding or abetting the alleged unlawful activities.
