Deploy Hisbah to enforce ban on alcohol – Chief Imam tells Nigerian gov

 Chief Imam of Maiduguri International Airport, Muhammad Ibrahim Adam, has expressed strong support for Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum’s recent prohibition on the sale of alcoholic beverages, describing it as a necessary step toward safeguarding societal values.

According to a statement issued Sunday by the State Directorate of Information, under the Ministry of Information and Internal Security, the Imam welcomed the ban as both appropriate and commendable, stressing its importance in maintaining moral and spiritual standards in the state.

“The Imam called on the government to consider the establishment of Hisbah, a moral enforcement body in the state, to help enforce Islamic principles and curb immoral practices,” the statement read.

He also offered prayers for lasting peace, unity, and development in Borno and throughout the country.

“The consumption of alcohol and other intoxicants is an act prohibited by all religions, as they open doors to all sorts of immoral and criminal behaviours in society,” it added.

Recall that the governor announced the alcohol ban last Tuesday while inaugurating a revamped task force at the council chambers of the Government House in Maiduguri. The committee is tasked with tackling illegal hotels, brothels, and criminal hotspots, as well as addressing broader antisocial behaviors.

Governor Zulum explained that the prohibition on alcohol was prompted by a surge in violence, cult-related clashes, prostitution, substance abuse, and theft, which have collectively resulted in significant loss of life and property.