Tension broke out in the Tandama community of Danja Local Government Area, Katsina State, on Thursday evening after a group of youths attacked the Hisbah office following a clash over hairstyle choices.
According to counter-insurgency analyst Zagazola Makama, the incident happened around 6:10 p.m. on June 13 after Hisbah officials confronted some young men over their haircut styles, claiming they were inappropriate. The disagreement escalated into violence.
“The situation got out of hand when the officials insisted the youths were violating moral codes,” Makama reported. “In retaliation, the youths mobilized and descended on the Hisbah office, causing significant damage.”
Several Hisbah personnel were injured and taken to Danja General Hospital. The severity of their injuries was not disclosed.
Police confirmed the incident and said an investigation was ongoing to identify those responsible.
“The culprits will be identified and prosecuted,” a police spokesperson said. “We are taking this matter seriously.”
The incident adds to rising tension over Hisbah’s activities in northern Nigeria. Critics say the group, created to uphold Islamic moral standards, is now overstepping by interfering in personal choices.
Makama said the clash “highlights the mounting frustration among citizens who feel that Hisbah’s actions are often arbitrary and a violation of individual rights.”
Some residents and civil society groups have urged the government to take steps to check the conduct of Hisbah.
“This constant harassment over dress codes, hairstyles, and lifestyle choices must stop,” one resident said. “They are pushing people to the edge.”
