Sokoto Hisbah Board Clarifies Wedding Gift Restrictions

A viral video shared on August 13, 2026, claimed that the Hisbah Board in Sokoto State had banned all wedding gifts and mixed gatherings involving men and women, affecting both Muslims and Christians. The video, which garnered significant attention, suggested these measures were part of a broader Islamisation agenda.

However, on August 24, a fact-checking platform investigated the claims and found them misleading. Hisbah Commander Usman Abdullahi had announced restrictions on excessive spending during wedding ceremonies on July 27, 2026, specifically targeting certain customs within Muslim communities, such as "Na Gani In So" and excessive bridal gifts known as lefe.

Abdullahi clarified that there was no outright ban on all wedding gifts and that the restrictions on mixed gatherings were not a blanket prohibition. Kayode James, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Sokoto, confirmed that Christians were not affected by these directives, dispelling the claims made in the viral video.