The Kano State Executive Council has on Wednesday suspended a renowned Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abduljabbar Nasir Kabara from preaching in the state.
The suspension was confirmed by the state’s commissioner for information, Muhammadu Garba to the BBC hausa service.
Garba said the restriction order was the conclusion of a parliament session on Wednesday and the state took the decision because the preacher was making statements that could lead to unrest in the state.
At the end of the session, the executive council ordered the closure of the cleric mosque locted in Filin Mushe area and banned him from preaching anywhere in the state pending when investigation is completed.
They advised him from making further inflammatory comments, including his social media.
The government also urged media platforms to blacklist his sermons, as airing them could lead to violence.
“The government had received reports from various sources, including reports from senior academics and security agencies, which is why the security forces have set up a special committee to look into such allegations.”
When asked if the government had interrogated the preacher before taking the censorship step, Garba said the government does not need to.
He claimed that the move was not a political move thus, security agencies of the state had analysed the preachings and deemed them inflammatory.
“This is a matter of peace, and I know that the Kwankwasiyyas do not want to make statements that will provoke violence, and it is not an election before us, let alone an allegation of politics. It is a matter of ensuring security in Kano State,” said Muhammadu Garba.
