Ramadan is a sacred month in the Islamic calendar, observed by millions of Muslims worldwide as a period of spiritual reflection, self-discipline, and devotion.
During this time, adult Muslims abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs from sunrise to sunset, focusing on prayer, charity, and reading the Qur’an.
Beyond fasting, Ramadan emphasizes compassion, generosity, and community bonding, as families and friends come together for iftar, the evening meal that breaks the fast, and engage in acts of kindness and worship.
Nine Muslim adults were arrested on the first day of the 2026 Ramadan fast after being caught eating in public during daylight hours, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
The arrests were made by the Kano State Hisbah Board, the Islamic morality police responsible for enforcing Sharia — the Islamic legal framework that operates alongside Nigeria’s secular law in the predominantly Muslim northern state.
Hisbah’s Deputy Commander General Mujahid Aminudeen said the suspects — seven men and two women — were apprehended on Wednesday after operatives spotted them eating openly in markets and public spaces in Kano metropolis.
The nine told officers they were unaware that Ramadan had commenced, but officials said public eating during daylight hours contradicts the religious fasting rules observed by Muslims.
“We have arrested them and they are currently with us,” Aminudeen told reporters, adding that the detainees would receive instruction on the importance of fasting, prayer, and Qur’an study.
He did not disclose when the individuals would be released from custody.
Fasting during Ramadan, which began this year on February 18 and is expected to continue until mid‑March, requires adult Muslims to abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset as part of a core religious obligation.
Hisbah officials traditionally patrol cafés, markets and other public venues during the holy month to ensure compliance with these rules.
The arrests reignite ongoing debates about the scope of religious policing and individual freedoms in regions where Sharia is formally recognised.
Previous similar operations have led to detentions, public discussions about enforcement practices, and cases in which community monitoring was used to ensure future compliance with fasting.