Plateau JNI Rejects Claims of Hisbah Plan, Says No Muslim Group Has Proposed Enforcement Corps

Islamic body says social-media claims were fuelled by AI-generated images as Governor Mutfwang orders probe into alleged unauthorised activities in Jos North

By Abdullahi Yusuf

The Plateau State chapter of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has rejected reports that a Muslim organisation is planning to establish a Hisbah Corps in Jos North Local Government Area, saying no Islamic organisation in the state has announced or initiated such a plan.

The clarification follows a controversy triggered by social-media reports and images purporting to show the emergence of a Hisbah group in parts of Jos North, prompting Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang to order an immediate halt to the activities of any group operating under the name.

Speaking amid the controversy, JNI Plateau Secretary, Dr Salim Musa Umar, said the organisation had investigated the claims and found no basis for reports that an Islamic group was seeking to establish Hisbah in the state.

“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.

He said the controversy began on social media after images showing people purportedly dressed in Hisbah uniforms were circulated, some of which, he alleged, were generated using artificial intelligence.

According to Umar, the images and accompanying claims were subsequently shared widely, creating the impression that a Hisbah organisation had already been established in Jos North.

He maintained that no religious organisation could simply establish an enforcement body without the necessary legal framework.

“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 said.

Umar called for thorough investigation of claims involving sensitive religious issues, particularly where unverified information could heighten tensions between communities.

He also appealed to social-media users to exercise caution before creating or circulating content capable of causing misunderstanding or undermining peaceful coexistence in the state.

The JNI clarification came days after Governor Mutfwang directed security agencies to halt the activities of a group reportedly operating as Hisbah in parts of Jos North.

In a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Gyang Bere, the governor described the reported activities as illegal and unauthorised and directed security agencies to identify and investigate those involved.

The directive followed reports alleging that members of the group had intimidated and harassed residents, demanded money and imposed rules or restrictions without legal authority.

Mutfwang warned against the emergence of parallel authorities or self-appointed enforcement bodies, stressing that individuals and organisations could not assume powers reserved for constitutionally recognised authorities.

He said Plateau State operates within a single constitutional and legal framework and that anyone found engaging in criminal conduct would be dealt with according to Nigerian law.

The governor also stressed that the directive was not aimed at any particular religion or ethnic group but at ensuring that all activities within the state remained subject to the law.

The controversy has since placed renewed attention on the legal status of Hisbah-type organisations in Nigeria. While such bodies operate with varying degrees of government recognition in some northern states, the Plateau government has maintained that no group may assume enforcement powers in the state without lawful authorisation.

For JNI, however, the immediate issue is the distinction between reports of unauthorised individuals operating under the name Hisbah and the claim that a recognised Muslim organisation in Plateau has decided to establish such a body.

Umar’s position is that no such plan exists and that the reports circulating online should not be taken as evidence of an official decision by an Islamic organisation.

The development has also raised concerns about the role of manipulated or AI-generated material in spreading sensitive claims online. With religious and communal issues capable of generating tension, the JNI secretary urged residents to verify information before sharing it.

The controversy therefore remains centred on two separate questions: who, if anyone, was behind the reported activities in Jos North, and whether any Muslim organisation in Plateau had actually authorised or proposed the establishment of a Hisbah body.

While the state government has ordered security agencies to investigate the reported activities, JNI has maintained that no Islamic organisation in Plateau has announced plans to establish Hisbah.

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