By Palang Paul
The Plateau State chapter of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has denied reports that an Islamic organisation has established a Hisbah Corps in Jos North Local Government Area.
The clarification was contained in a statement issued by the JNI State Secretary, Dr Salim Musa Umar, on Tuesday, amid public outrage over reports alleging that members of the purported group were intimidating, harassing and extorting residents.
The controversy followed social media reports claiming that a religious and moral enforcement group had commenced operations under the name of Hisbah in parts of Jos North.
Umar said the JNI was not aware of any Islamic organisation in Plateau State planning to establish a Hisbah Corps, stressing that the matter had never been discussed or considered by the organisation.
“I want to assure the people that no Islamic organisation in Plateau has come out to say it wants to establish Hisbah. There is nothing like that. It has never been discussed, and it is not part of what is being considered,” Umar said.
According to him, the controversy originated from social media posts in which individuals allegedly used artificial intelligence-generated images of people in uniforms to create the impression that a Hisbah organisation had been established in Jos North.
“The matter started on social media when some people appeared in uniforms created with the help of artificial intelligence, claiming that they had established Hisbah in Jos North,” he said.
Umar further explained that Hisbah could not legally be established in the state without enabling legislation passed by the Plateau State House of Assembly.
“Hisbah cannot be established without a law from the State House of Assembly, and the government has not done that. Therefore, people cannot simply come out and claim that they have established Hisbah,” he added.
The clarification comes after Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang rejected the reported establishment of the group and directed security agencies to identify and investigate those allegedly involved in the activities.
The JNI secretary appealed to residents and social media users to exercise caution and desist from creating or circulating information capable of causing misunderstanding, tension and disruption of peaceful coexistence in Plateau State.
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