Nigerian Islamic police in Kano State have arrested nine Muslims for allegedly eating in public on the first day of Ramadan.
The detainees seven men and two women reportedly told authorities they were unaware that the holy month had officially begun. Ramadan requires adult Muslims to fast from sunrise to sunset.
Kano, a predominantly Muslim state in Nigeria, operates Islamic Sharia law alongside the country’s secular legal system. Enforcement of religious compliance is carried out by the Hisbah, the state’s Islamic morality police.
During Ramadan, Hisbah officers patrol markets, restaurants, and public spaces to ensure Muslims observe the fast. Non-Muslims are not required to fast under the law.
Authorities have not yet disclosed what penalties the nine individuals may face, as investigations continue.