The Kebbi Hisbah Board has praised Dandi Local Government Area for implementing regulations that ban drug trafficking, gambling, and wild celebrations. Sirajo Kamba, Director of Shari'ah at the board, said the measures aim to uphold morality and sanitise society, urging other local governments to adopt similar reforms. The directive includes mandatory medical fitness certificates before marriage and prohibits men and women from mingling at social events.
DJs, dancing, and musical entertainment are no longer allowed at gatherings in Dandi, while reckless motorcycle riding during bridal processions has also been banned. The council has prohibited indecent hairstyles and fashions deemed contrary to moral values. It is also cracking down on gambling, drug abuse, and the sale of illicit drugs.
Kamba welcomed the regulation of engagement ceremonies to prevent extravagance and supported the ban on obscene language in herbal medicine advertisements. The council has further outlawed domestic abuse and the mistreatment of women. He called on residents to comply with the new rules and urged leaders to enforce them with justice and due process.
He made the remarks in a statement issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday. Kamba prayed for divine guidance for local leaders and appealed to other councils to involve traditional and religious figures in shaping moral conduct. He emphasized that enforcement must follow due process while calling for peace, unity, and development across Dandi, Kebbi, and Nigeria.
The same council banning indecent hairstyles and mixed-gender gatherings has also outlawed domestic abuse, yet treats both as moral infractions rather than separate legal and social issues. This frames gender-based violence as a matter of public decency instead of a crime with specific victims. By grouping it with dancing and fashion, the response risks diluting the seriousness of abuse. The approach suggests moral policing takes precedence over targeted justice for women.
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