11 Nigerian Muslims arrested for not fasting

11 Nigerians were apprehended on Tuesday after being observed eating food during the Ramadan fast, according to the Islamic police in Kano, Nigeria’s northern state.

Kano, with a majority Muslim population, operates under Sharia alongside secular law.

The Islamic police, known as Hisbah, conduct searches of eateries and markets every year during Ramadan.

The ten men and one woman were released after swearing an oath that they would not intentionally miss fasting again.

Hisbah spokesman Lawal Fagge, cited by the BBC, stated, “We apprehended 11 individuals on Tuesday, including a lady selling groundnuts who was seen eating from her wares, and some persons alerted us.”

“The other 10 were men and were arrested across the city, especially close to markets where a lot of activities happen,” he said.

He added that search operations would continue but clarified that non-Muslims were exempt from arrest.

Hisbah does not arrest non-Muslims unless they are involved in selling food to fasting Muslims.

Those arrested were released after promising to start fasting again, and some had their relatives or guardians contacted for family monitoring.

Just over two decades ago, Sharia was introduced to work alongside secular law in 12 of Nigeria’s northern states with a majority Muslim population.

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, holds special significance in Islam.

Muslims believe it’s the month when the first verses of the Quran, Islam’s holy book, were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

Fasting, observed during daylight hours, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, laying the basis for Muslim life.

This year, Ramadan is expected to last 30 days, starting on Monday, March 11, and predicted to end on Tuesday, April 9.