Hisbah Launches Crackdown on Illegal Sports Betting Shops in Kano
Islamic police in Nigeria’s northern city of Kano have commenced shutting down sports betting shops, which they assert are operating unlawfully. Kano Hisbah Betting
“As you know betting is forbidden in Islam,” stated Mujahid Aminudeen, deputy chief of the Sharia police force, known as the Hisbah, during an interview with the BBC.
This enforcement action was initiated following concerns raised by community leaders and parents about the increasing number of gambling addicts, according to Mr. Aminudeen.
On the initial day of the raids, 30 betting shops were closed in a single suburb, with their owners warned and sent home, as reported by the Sharia officer.
However, Mr. Aminudeen cautioned that now that the public is aware of the Hisbah’s efforts to crack down on gambling, those who violate the regulations would face arrest.
Kano city serves as the capital of Kano state, where the majority of the population is Muslim, and the Islamic legal system—Sharia—functions alongside secular law. In contrast, bookmakers and bars are typically permitted to operate in Kano’s Christian neighborhoods, although they too can be subject to intervention if the Hisbah believes Muslims are frequenting those establishments.
The ongoing crackdown specifically targets Muslim areas of Kano, a sprawling city and the economic center of northern Nigeria.
Sports betting shops are prevalent throughout the city, many equipped with television screens showcasing international football matches or horse races that patrons have placed bets on.
Mr. Aminudeen indicated that these bookmakers had managed to evade scrutiny by opening under false pretenses.
“They don’t have licenses to operate as they were given permission to run video games centers, which they later converted to betting shops,” he noted.
The sports betting industry has witnessed dramatic growth in recent years across the West African nation, which is predominantly split between a largely Muslim north and a principally Christian south.
Many individuals frequent bookmakers to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow gamblers, though mobile apps for wagering on event outcomes are also gaining popularity.
The country’s severe economic crisis has driven many to take risks on small bets in hopes of substantial returns.
However, this trend has resulted in widespread addiction, leading parents to voice concerns that children are dropping out of school to gamble, as Mr. Aminudeen pointed out.
“These economic issues we are facing in Nigeria is God telling us to change our ways by stopping sins,” he remarked.
The raids conducted on Tuesday targeted Munjibir, regarded as a resort area in the northeast of the city, where visitors flock on weekends.
“I am advising those running those betting shops to either shut down or we’ll arrest them and take them to [a Sharia] court,” Mr. Aminudeen warned.
It remains unclear what penalties offenders might face, though such violations typically attract fines.
Sharia law was implemented in Kano in 2000, as it was in 11 other Muslim-majority northern states, resulting in the prohibition of prostitution, gambling, and alcohol consumption. Kano Hisbah Betting
