Isiyaku Ahmed.
The International Peace and Secure Society (IPSS) has sounded a strong warning over what it describes as a troubling push to establish an unauthorized Hisbah outfit in Kano State, an initiative allegedly linked to former governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Director General, Comrade (Dr.) Yahaya Danjuma Yusuf, IPSS said it is “deeply concerned” by viral reports indicating plans to revive or reorganize former Hisbah operatives into a new structure outside the authority of the Kano State Government.
IPSS described the move as “alarming, unlawful, and a call for anarchy.”
A Threat to Kano’s Delicate Peace
Kano, a state long admired for its social stability despite its complexity, “cannot afford experiments in security.
“With Nigeria facing escalating insecurity, ranging from banditry and kidnapping to violent extremism, IPSS warned.
IPSS believes that a parallel Hisbah group would undermine the state’s fragile peace architecture.
“There is already a legally recognized Hisbah Board in Kano.
“Creating a second version tied to a private citizen or political figure would confuse residents, divide authority, and dangerously destabilize the state.
“Two Hisbah bodies in one state is not coordination, it is a recipe for conflict,” the statement stressed.
Constitutional Boundaries Must Be Respected
IPSS reminded stakeholders that policing and security are exclusive functions of the federal and state governments, coordinated through the governor, who serves as the Chief Security Officer.
Any attempt to create private enforcement bodies, it warned, violates constitutional provisions and opens the door to conflict.
“It is dangerous for private actors to control or influence security.
“It never ends well. It leads to confrontation, escalation, and instability,” IPSS said.
Danger Signals Already Visible
The IPSS identified several risks associated with forming an unregulated Hisbah-style outfit:
- Unauthorized armed mobilization
Divided loyalties among operatives
Fear and tension within communities
Infiltration by criminal groups - Possible clashes with the existing Hisbah Board or state security agencies
- Destabilization of Kano’s security framework.
“This is how societies slip into crisis, quietly at first, then suddenly,” the statement warned.
Support for Former Officers Should Be Lawful
IPSS acknowledged concerns about disengaged Hisbah personnel but urged that any support offered to them must be legitimate.
IPSS recommended employment opportunities, skills training, and reintegration programs, not attempts to form a private enforcement squad.
“Turning them into a private force is not empowerment, it is provocation,” the group cautioned.
Call for Immediate Action
IPSS called on the police, Department of State Security (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), and other security agencies to investigate any movement or mobilization suggesting the formation of unauthorized Hisbah-like groups.
It urged full coordination with the Kano State Government to prevent illegal security structures from emerging.
Community leaders and political actors were also warned against actions or statements that could incite fear or undermine the lawful security system.
‘Kano Must Choose Stability Over Sentiment’
Reaffirming its commitment to peace and lawful security reforms, IPSS urged the public and government authorities to safeguard Kano from destabilizing initiatives.
“Kano is too precious, too fragile, and too important to be exposed to dangerous experiments in security,” the statement concluded.
