Sokoto Hisbah Board denies restrictions on Christians
From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
The Sokoto State Hisbah Board has debunked allegations circulating on social media by a blogger, @radical.okoja.bia and others, claiming that the Board is imposing restrictions on Christian worship in the state.
The Board, in a press statement issued on Saturday in Sokoto by the Commandant, Dr. Usman Abdullahi Jatau, described the claims as false, misleading and an attempt to discredit the Board and disrupt religious harmony in the state.
Dr. Jatau said it was necessary to set the records straight, because Sokoto remains one of the most peaceful states in the country where adherents of all faiths are treated with dignity and respect.
“Our response is not intended to please or offend anybody, but to correct factual inaccuracies, challenge unsupported assertions, and distinguish facts from malicious and fictitious misinterpretations,” he said.
The Commandant said the allegations include claims that mixed gatherings of men and women are not allowed in Churches and that Church services must be conducted separately.
Other claims are that a pastor cannot sit in the same place with his wife during service, and that there is an agenda to Islamize Nigeria starting from Sokoto to Plateau, then to the South-West and finally to the South-East and South-South.
Dr. Jatau stated categorically that the claims do not reflect the position, mandate, or activities of the Sokoto State Hisbah Board.
He explained that the law establishing the Hisbah Board, as passed by the Sokoto State House of Assembly, affects only Muslims and has no bearing on the religious practices of Christians or adherents of other faiths.
“The blogger should continue his campaign for whichever party he is working for, but should not link the Sokoto State Hisbah Board with his assertions on the political fortune or misfortune of the country,” the Commandant added.
He urged the public to disregard the allegations and to continue promoting peace, unity and mutual respect among all religious groups in the state.
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