Fresh reactions have trailed the passage of the controversial Hisbah Bill by the Niger State House of Assembly, with the Boys Brigade Nigeria, Niger State Council, condemning the move as a potential threat to peace and stability in the state.

The group aligned itself with the stance earlier taken by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which criticised the bill and appealed to Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago not to sign it into law.

In a 12-point communiqué issued after an emergency meeting of its State Executive Council in Minna, and signed by the State Organising Secretary, Mr. Samson Japhet Pada, the Boys Brigade expressed strong disapproval of the legislation. The council stated that, at a time when Niger State is grappling with serious security and economic challenges, priority should be given to laws that promote safety, economic growth, and the overall wellbeing of residents.

The group described the proposed law as divisive and cautioned that it could further strain the state’s fragile economy, drawing parallels with the introduction of Shari’a law in 2001, which it claimed led to economic setbacks and the departure of businesses and residents.

According to the communiqué, Niger State has yet to fully recover from the social and economic consequences of past policies and cannot afford another destabilising experience. The organisation argued that the Hisbah Bill poses a direct risk to the peaceful coexistence among the state’s diverse ethnic and religious communities.

While acknowledging the importance of moral discipline in society, the Boys Brigade maintained that religious bodies, rather than a state-backed Hisbah structure, should be responsible for guiding their adherents.

The council also raised concerns over provisions in the bill establishing a Hisbah Board, alleging that its composition—reportedly limited to Muslims—could marginalise Christians and infringe on the constitutional right to freedom of religion as enshrined in Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Instead of the Hisbah legislation, the group urged lawmakers to focus on addressing pressing issues such as poverty, the rising number of out-of-school children, and the Almajiri phenomenon, which it described as a major social challenge in the North.

The Boys Brigade called on Christians in the state to remain vigilant, pray against any development that could undermine peace, and actively participate in the political process. It encouraged members and other Christians to obtain their voter cards and support candidates committed to unity, development, and stability in the state.