In Nigeria’s troubled north, a bustling nightlife lives with a morality police and insecurity
Sokoto, Nigeria - In the heart of northern Nigeria, a vibrant nightlife thrives despite the conservative religious code and security challenges. A nightclub in the state of Sokoto, known as the "seat of the caliphate" for its Islamic heritage, attracts revelers who disregard the local morality police, or Hisbah force. The Hisbah enforces Shariah and local laws, such as dress codes and bans on alcohol, but partygoers say they are undeterred.
Benjamin Danjuma, a frequent club-goer, maintains that people in the region are not left behind and are living their lives, even in the face of insecurity and economic hardship. The Hisbah, which was disbanded in 2017 due to public complaints about abuse but reestablished in 2024, is often accused of extreme policies and rights violations.
Nigeria's religious divide, with the majority Muslim north and the predominantly Christian south, has been a source of tension, with non-Muslims sometimes caught up in Hisbah's enforcement.
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
