The Katsina State Hisbah Board has issued a directive banning girls from hawking goods at night, imposing a strict 10 pm deadline for all such activities across the state.
The Commandant General of the Board, Sheikh Saifullahi Yakubu Musa, announced the restriction during a press briefing at the Board’s headquarters on Tuesday. The decision aims to protect young girls from various social risks and to ensure that street vending activities align with Islamic principles governing conduct and safety.
Under the new rules, any girl found hawking products on the streets of Katsina after the 10 pm cutoff will face intervention from the Board. The move comes as part of a broader effort by the Shari’ah enforcement body to regulate public spaces and safeguard vulnerable demographics within the state.
Safety and religious compliance
The decision to restrict night hawking is rooted in the increasing security concerns prevalent in parts of Northern Nigeria. Local authorities and community leaders have frequently noted that late-night activities leave children and young women exposed to heightened risks, including kidnapping, sexual harassment, and physical assault.
Sheikh Musa stated that the directive is necessary to shield girls from these “social risks” while maintaining the moral standards expected under the state’s religious framework. By setting the 10 pm deadline, the Board intends to limit the window of time during which minors are vulnerable in unsupervised public environments.
While the Hisbah Board has not specified the exact penalties for violators, the directive implies active monitoring by Board officials across various local government areas in Katsina. The enforcement is expected to target street vendors who continue to operate in markets and residential areas well into the night.
The ban presents a complex challenge for many low-income families in the state who rely on the nighttime economy to supplement their earnings. Many households in Katsina use the evening hours to hawk essential items, a practice often driven by economic necessity. However, the Board has prioritised the physical security and moral protection of girls over these economic activities.
The Hisbah Board’s move follows similar regulatory patterns seen in other Northern states, where religious and social enforcement bodies seek to manage public morality and child protection. Moving forward, the Board is expected to increase its presence on the streets to ensure the 10 pm deadline is strictly observed by residents and vendors alike.
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