The Kano State Hisbah Board has banned the downloading and distribution of movies through mobile phones across the state, citing concerns over the circulation of content deemed contrary to Islamic teachings and the cultural values of Kano.
The directive, which takes immediate effect, applies across all 44 local government areas of the state.
The Deputy Commander General of the Hisbah Board, Dr. Mujahid Aminuddeen, announced the ban in a statement issued on Thursday, saying the measure is aimed at protecting public morality and promoting Islamic values.
According to him, the decision followed numerous complaints that some operators involved in the mobile movie download business were distributing pornographic films and other video materials considered offensive to the state’s religious and cultural norms.
“The Hisbah Board has banned the downloading and distribution of movies through mobile phones across the 44 local government areas in the state,” Aminuddeen said.
He disclosed that Hisbah personnel have been deployed to enforce the directive through routine patrols and monitoring operations across the state.
“The board has deployed its personnel to monitor compliance through routine patrols and enforcement operations across the state. Anyone found violating the directive will face legal action in accordance with the laws of Kano State,” he warned.
Aminuddeen urged those engaged in the business to seek alternative lawful means of earning a living, stressing that the objective of the ban is not to punish citizens but to safeguard young people from exposure to harmful and immoral content.
He further linked the increasing rate of moral decadence among youths to the widespread consumption of indecent films and videos, arguing that stricter measures were necessary to preserve societal values.
The Kano State Hisbah Board, which is responsible for enforcing Sharia-related regulations in the state, has in recent years introduced a number of measures aimed at promoting moral conduct and regulating activities it considers inconsistent with Islamic principles. The latest directive is expected to affect operators who provide movie download services through mobile phones across Kano.
