The Kano State Hisbah Board, on Wednesday, said it apprehended 11 Muslims for violating the Ramadan fast by eating during daylight hours.
The Public Relations Officer of the board, Lawal Ibrahim, said the arrests were made during the annual Ramadan enforcement operations, which included searches of eateries and markets.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service monitored on Wednesday, monitored by our correspondent, the Hisbah spokesman said, “The individuals arrested include 10 men and one woman, who were caught eating from her groundnut-selling stall.”
Ibrahim explained that non-Muslims were exempt from such enforcement activities, but if found selling food during fasting hours to Muslims, they could be held.
“We apprehended 11 persons on Tuesday, including a lady selling groundnuts, who was seen eating from her wares after some persons alerted us. The other 10 persons were men and were arrested across the city, especially close to markets where a lot of activities happen.
“We don’t arrest non-Muslims because this doesn’t concern them, and the only time they could be guilty of a crime is when we find out they cook food to sell to Muslims who are supposed to be fasting.”
The month-long Ramadan fast began on Monday, following a declaration by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaja Sa’ad Abubakar, on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Senator Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara State has donated food items and clothing materials to 10,000 orphans for Ramadan and Sallah celebrations.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Yari, representing Zamfara West Senatorial District, on Wednesday, flagged off the distribution of the items to the beneficiaries in Gusau.
The senator, represented by the former Chairman of the All Progressive Congress in the state, Alhaji Lawal Liman, said that the gesture was to assist orphans during Ramadan and to celebrate EI-el-fitri.
“Assisting the needy is very necessary, especially during the holy months of Ramadan, because it is the teaching of Prophet Muhammad SAW,” Yari explained.
Similarly, a former Kwara State governor and ex-Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, commenced the distribution of food items to Muslim faithful and others in Kwara.
According to a statement on Wednesday by his Press Officer on Local Matters, Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir, the distribution of the food items is in fulfillment of Saraki’s annual practice and a gesture to ensure that everyone observes the Ramadan fast in comfort.
“It is my utmost joy to be with you all at this season of piety and supplication, to pray with you and observe Iftar as directed by Prophet Mohammed (SAW).
“I appreciate your presence and love always and want to beseech you to spend the fasting period praying for a turnaround in our nation’s fortune.
“Let us also continue to show love, unite, and build a formidable force towards the emancipation of our land,” Sakaki said, according to the statement.
Source | Punchng
