26012020 - How bad an example was set in Zamfara

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2020, PAGE 11
LEGAL FRAMEWORK:
Hisbah, the Sharia
police, ‘lesson for
Amotekun’
By Abdulmumin Murtala
Concerning the
composition and
functions of Hizbah
Corps in Kano State, Deputy
Commander of the Corps,
Muhammad Albakari Mika’il,
told Sunday Vanguard that its
mandate is to ensure the
implementation of Sharia law.
He said: “The bill
establishing Hizbah Board
was signed into law in 2004
following the Sharia reforms
in the state. Hisbah is an
Arabic word meaning an act
performed for the good of
the society. The Hisbah
Corps operates under the
jurisdiction of the Hisbah
Board and the Board is
composed of government
officials, conventional police
officers and religious leaders.
“The Board is also
decentralized with
local units
supervised by
committees. It is
composed of
officials and
citizens in the
communities where
it operates.
“Hisbah can
prosecute before
the Sharia court on
arrest and officers
are armed only with
non-lethal weapons
for self-defence,
such as batons.
“Their duty is to
police the Sharia
implementation
which restricts their job to the
adherents of the Sharia. As a
result, it has functions and
structure.
“Part of the
Their duty is
to police the
Sharia
implementation
which restricts
their job to the
adherents of
the Sharia. As
a result, it has
functions and
structure
function is to
assist the police
by putting an
eye on issues
that are related
to the violation
of the Sharia
law, which
i n c l u d e
drinking and
selling of
alcohol, drugs
and other
intoxicants as
well as
prostitution and
similar acts
considered as
violation of the
Sharia law.
“It reconciles and serves as
*Hisbah operatives on patrol
an arbiter in voluntary and
domestic family disputes and
others. It also helps non-
Muslims recover their
property in cases where a
Muslim might have cheated
on the non-Muslim.
“Hisbah officers are also
trained to assist in disaster
response operations.
“Hisbah also provides
security during Friday
prayers at mosques across the
state and also looks after
orphanages as well.
“Hisbah officers also preach
to those on first arrests and
remind them of their duties as
citizens and believers in
Shari’a.’’
Continued from page 7
Buhari not to allow what he
described as “unconstitutionality.”
On the same day, governors of the
North-West states said they were
ready to copy their South-West
counterparts by launching a joint
security operation to checkmate the
growing state of insecurity in the
region.
Chairman of the governors of
the region, Alhaji Aminu Masari,
made the disclosure during a media
chat in Katsina.
January 10
There was an outpouring of
support from Ohaneze Ndigbo on
January 10.
Ohanaeze said Amotekun was
necessary because the country has
the armed forces controlled by
officers from one ethnic group who
ought to have retired from service.
On January 11
On January 11, Indigenous People
of Biafra, IPoB, hailed South-West
governors, arguing that the launch
of Operation Amotekun, was akin
to an idea its leader initiated in the
South- East which Igbo leaders
condemned.
Similarly, Convener of Northern
Elders’ Forum and former Vice-
Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria, Prof Ango
Abdullahi, commended the
governors.
He said the inauguration of
Amotekun was a welcome
development considering the
current wave of insecurity across the
country.
He promised to support any cause
that would enhance security.
January 14
A few days after the launch,
precisely on January 14, the federal
government declared Amotekun
illegal, saying it was not backed by
any law.
The AGF made the position of the
government known in a statement
by his Special Assistant on Media
and Public Relations, Dr. Umar
Gwandu.
“The setting up of the paramilitary
organisation called “Amotekun” is
illegal and runs contrary to the
provisions of the Nigerian law. The
People Power
Constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) has
established the Army, Navy, and
Airforce, including the Police and
other numerous paramilitary
organisations for the defence of
Nigeria,” the statement said.
January 15
In a manner, displaying firm
resolve to go ahead with Amotekun,
the governors, on January 15, said
they were not backing down on
account of federal government’s
opposition.
Chairman of South-West
Governors Forum, Mr. Rotimi
Akeredolu, who made the position
known, said Amotekun was legal,
saying they were ready to defend the
continued existence of the security
network.
Wole Soyinka
The governors spoke on the same
day with Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole
Soyinka, who urged them to ignore
Malami and not waiver in their
commitment to protecting lives and
property.
He said those opposed to
Amotekun were sleeping when
Nigerians were being killed.
January 16
The following day, pan-Yoruba
socio-cultural organisation,
Afenifere, urged the governors to
ignore Malami.
Leader of the body, Pa Reuben
Fasoranti, whose daughter was
murdered last year in the region,
stated this in Akure.
“I want them to go ahead and do
it in the interest of our people. We
cannot leave ourselves here, and be
helpless in the face of incessant
onslaught,” he said.
Also, on January 16, herders under
the auspices of Miyetti Allah Kautal
Hore, asked South-West governors
to dump Amotekun or risk the
chance of producing the next
President in 2023.
January 17
That was followed by calls by the
same group on January 17, for the
arrest of Yoruba leaders promoting
the outfit.
January 18
President of Middle Belt Forum,
Dr. Bitrus Pogu, said governors of
Middle Belt states would replicate
Amotekun.
January 19
On January 19, the Organised
Labour supported the security
initiative, saying such outfits were
the way to go for the nation to
surmount her security challenges.
January 21
There were solidarity
protests for Operation
Amotekun across the six states
in South-West region.
78 socio-cultural groups
under the aegis of Yoruba
World Congress (YWC), led by
Prof Banji Akintoye, facilitated
the rally.
January 22
National Leader of All
Progressives Congress, APC,
Bola Tinubu, broke his silence
on the issue on January 22,
saying Amotekun constituted
no threat to national security
as being claimed by
antagonists.
In another statement on
January 23, the AGF restated
his position on Amotekun,
describing it as illegal.
He reiterated the stance
before going into a meeting
with Osinbajo and governors
of the South-West states, who
after the gathering agreed that a
legal framework should be put in
place for Amotekun.
Osinbajo, after the meeting, said:
“It was fruitful and unanimous
resolutions were made on the way
forward at a meeting with South -
West governors, the Attorney
General of the Federation and the
Inspector General of Police over the
controversy surrounding the
Amotekun Initiative.
Structure
of Amotekun
“The meeting was at the instance
of the governors who had asked to
see President Muhammadu Buhari.
It was agreed that the structure of
Amotekun should also align with the
community policing strategy of the
federal government.”
Briefing State House
correspondents, after the forum,
Akeredolu said, they agreed on the
way forward, noting that a legal
framework would be established to
back the initiative.
Legal framework
He said: “We held a very fruitful
discussion, the governors of the
South-West were there. The meeting
was presided over by the Vice
President, the AGF was there
and the Inspector General of
Police.
“We have rubbed minds
and all of us have agreed on
the way forward. The most
important thing is that we
are going to have the legal
framework to back this
Amotekun. And this legal
framework is going to be one
in which all of us will look at
and we will be sure that it
goes without any
hindrance.”
On whether the agreement
meant that the outfit would
be put on hold until the legal
framework was developed,
he said the regional outfit
would remain.
He said: “No. What I
believe about our resolution
is that Amotekun is there, you
know the federal
government is starting
community policing. In essence, it
is about community. So, we are
going to work together to see the
community policing and Amotekun
work in a way.”