The Kano Hisbah Board has confirmed plans to resume raids on betting establishments across the city, following a recent ruling by the Nigerian Supreme Court.
The court quashed a 2005 law that legalised sports betting and gambling, declaring that regulation of gambling falls under the jurisdiction of state governments.
Abba Sufi, Director General of the Kano Hisbah, stated that the board will resume its clampdown on betting shops with renewed determination, citing that betting is illegal under Kano State sharia law. The Hisbah had previously raided and shut down dozens of football betting shops in the city last month.
The raids were initiated in response to complaints from parents concerned about children being drawn into gambling through their passion for football. Sufi noted that the difficult economic situation is driving more people toward football betting as a way to make quick money, but many end up trapped in this vice.
Kano State operates under a dual legal system, incorporating both federal and Islamic sharia law, which has long prohibited gambling. The Hisbah’s actions have sparked debate, with some criticizing the board’s hypocrisy and others supporting the crackdown on betting shops.
Reactions to the crackdown have been mixed, with some praising the Hisbah’s efforts to enforce sharia law and protect citizens from the harms of gambling.
Others have criticized the board’s actions, citing concerns about hypocrisy and the potential impact on the livelihoods of those working in the betting industry.
