By Suleiman Yakubu

The Hisbah unit of the Niger State Shari'ah Commission has inaugurated the uniform members of the Minna Emirate Hisbah unit.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, Rufa'i Hashim, who stood in for the Grand Khadi of the state, Musa Muhammad Kigera, during the inauguration ceremony at Justice Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, Minna, said the Hisbah unit had been in existence since the regime of Late Engr. Abdulkadir Ƙure but was neglected by the successive administrations.
He disclosed that there were Hisbah units across all eight Emirates councils in the state that were taken care of by the Emirate councils, adding that the event was to revive the unit to be visible and more effective.
The executive secretary of the commission observed that the moral decadence amongst the youths in the state was getting out of hand, stressing the need to strengthen the unit to function effectively and assist in correcting the menace in our society.
He further disclosed that the law establishing the commission and the Hisbah unit was still in existence, saying that with the support of the state government and other relevant stakeholders, the unit will measure up to its counterparts in Kano, Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto states.
He added that the Hisbah was currently operating in five local government areas of the Emirate to sanitise our communities, namely Chanchaga, Bosso, Paikoro, Munya, and Shiroro, saying it is the hope of the commission to see the Hisbah unit stand on its feet and measure up with those in other states.
The state Hisbah Commander General, Aliyu Usman Sarki, disclosed that the Hisbah unit had done well during the time of the late Engr. Abdulkadir Ƙure, where they recorded a lot of achievements.
He said the unit serves as police to the state liquor board and also preaches during the collection of Zakkat, adding that the unit also ensures that the measuring materials in our markets are accurate.
The Commander General added that the state Shari'ah commission has only two units, the Hisbah and the Da'awa units, disclosing that their officers were well trained by the law enforcement agents in the state to carry out their functions.
He maintained that the Hisbah is neither the police force nor any of the security agencies, but a unit under the Shari'ah commission that collaborates with the law enforcement agencies to sanitise and bring peace to our communities.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Cikasoron Minna, Alhaji Yahaya Babangida, and Amb. Jibrin Abdullahi observed that moral decadence was on the rise in the state, particularly in the Minna Emirate, and urged members of the Hisbah organisation to work without fear or favour.
Highlights of the occasion were the decorations of the advisory board members of the organisation and some of the officials.

By Suleiman Yakubu

The importance of hijab wearing to Muslim women cannot be overemphasised. A Muslim girl, Kawasar Mohammad, a P.O.S. operator at Yunus Venture Kwarin Begger Junction along Maitumbi Road, Minna, Niger State, said wearing hijab by Muslim women is a welcomed development. According to her, "Hijab wearing, which entails covering the body from the head to the legs, is to protect against evil eyes." She added that Muslim women are to differentiate themselves by wearing hijab, either in government offices, markets, houses, or business centres.
She advises men who act as women in the film industry to be careful when it comes to wearing hijab and to always make proper use of the hijab dress codes for the women in their films. Hence, anything short of that is against Islamic law.
An Islamic scholar, Mallam Nuhu Haruna, said Muslim women between the ages of 12 and above should start wearing hijab, as indicated in the holy Qur'an and Hadiths.
He explained this to Newsline in his office at the Ahmadu Bahago Institute of Arabic Language Nursery and Primary School in Minna.
According to Mallam Nuhu, "the hijab worn by married women and those by non-married women can be easily identified." He, however, pointed out that all categories of Muslim women should cover their heads till down their legs whenever they are going out, either for naming ceremonies or wedding fatiha, among others. He called on Muslim women to make sure that their hijab always covers their bodies.
He pointed out that he is totally against a man who dresses like a woman, and also against a woman who dresses like a man. Such a dress is against Islamic law. He further noted that the Qur'an and Hadiths are not supportive of a man who changes his skin, bleaches, or even wears makeup on his face or has any design on his body.
He encouraged Muslim brothers and sisters to always obey the commandments of Allah and to stop all forms of wrongdoing to ensure that they enter paradise.  
He urged them and other religious leaders to preach peace for their followers.