Bauchi State Hisbah Command confiscates 260 crates of alcoholic drinks as they defy Sharia law

BAUCHI State's religious police known as the Hisbah has confiscated 260 crates of alcoholic drinks from hotels and night clubs as part of a crackdown on practices it deems un-Islamic under its hardline Sharia laws.

One of the 12 Nigerian states that have introduced the strict Sharia laws, Bauchi by-law prohibit the consumption of alcohol. According to the Bauchi State Hisbah Command, it thus decided to confiscate the alcoholic drinks from hotels and night clubs across the state because they contravened the law.

Mallam Aminu Balarabe Isah, the permanent commissioner in charge of Hisbah and Sharia implementation in Bauchi State, said the action was part of its effort to enforce the strict Sharia Islamic code. He said 216 crates were confiscated in Misau Local Government Area and 44 in a Bauchi club and some beer parlours located in Dass Park in Bauchi metropolis.

“We will continue to conduct our search to fish out perpetrators of such misdemeanours. We will also be seeking for a court order to destroy the items as the subsisting Sharia law implemented in 2003 which prohibits sales and consumption of alcoholic drinks.

“No fewer than six operators of beer parlours were also arrested during the patrol and they would soon be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others,” he said. Mallam Isah, however urged the state government to hasten the appointment of the state hisbah board, as well as provide additional financial support to the department.