Religious violence looms in Kano
•As non-muslims petition Yar’Adua over Hisbah
COSMAS EKPUNOBI, Abuja
Another round of violence appears to be looming in Kano State as leaders of non-Muslim residents in the state has petitioned President Umaru YarAdua, and Senate President, David Mark over the renewed attack on the people and wanton destruction of alcoholic drinks by Hisbah command, an agent set up by the state government to implement Sharia legal system in the state.
Leaders of non indigenes in the state in a four page strong petition dated June 18 and made available to Daily Champion at the weekend declared that non Muslim would no longer fold their hands and watch the Hisbah command in the state unleash terror on innocent people under the guise of Sharia implementation.
In the petition, they accused Governor Ibrahim Shekarau and the Nigerian police force of conspiracy of silence.
They said the command had concentrated its attack in the recent times on non-Muslim residents in Sabon Gari, a predominantly non indigenes community in Kano State.
The aggrieved non Muslims under the aegis of ‘leaders of ethnic communities resident in Kano State’ in the letter said the government outfit had in a year destroyed over 30 trailer load of assorted drinks worth N250million.
The forum in the letter jointly signed by its president and secretary general Chief Tobias Idika and Prince Femi Adegoroye respectively alleged that the Hisbah command has taken over the job of Nigerian police and NDLEA in the state and mount road blocks in their search for alcoholic drinks in the state.
They said some luxurious bus drivers and owners of such items plying any of the federal high ways in the state were victims of the activities of Hisbah.
"Very fresh in memory is the incident of March 30 when Hisbah intercepted a truck conveying drinks to Maiduguri , after a thorough investigation by the Nigerian police , they charged the truck to a magistrate court which later released the truck upon finding that it was on transit plying a federal high way, but to the consternation of law abiding citizens, Hisbah after the court verdict , re arrested the truck at court premises , confiscated and destroyed the drinks."
"There would have been a mother of all riots in Kano on May 28 when Hisbah under the pretence of pursing a truck made attempt to unleash terror on Sabon Gari residents.
"To our greatest surprise, police and other security agents in Kano state have failed to be proactive , responsible and responsive on this issues, they seem to have been looking the other side while Hisbah constitue to disturb public peace.
"They said a number of bus drivers and owners of drinks have been arrested and detained by the police and taken to court of their choice,
"We as responsible citizens of this country and community burdened with the responsibility of ensuring peace and order are moved to draw the attention of the president on this matter and we wish that you act fast before things get out hand."