Islamic authorities in Kano, a northern city in Nigeria, have begun shutting down sports betting establishments, claiming they are operating without legal authorization.

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“As you know betting is forbidden in Islam,” Mujahid Aminudeen, deputy chief of the Sharia police force, known as the Hisbah, told the BBC.

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The enforcement action was triggered by concerns from community leaders and parents regarding the rising number of gambling addicts, according to him.

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On the first day of the operations, 30 shops in a single neighborhood were shut down, and their owners were sent away with a warning, the Sharia officer stated.

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Mr. Aminudeen cautioned that with the public now aware of the Hisbah's crackdown on gambling, individuals violating the regulations would face arrest.

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Kano city serves as the capital of Kano state, which has a predominantly Muslim population and implements both the Islamic legal system—Sharia—and secular law.

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In Kano's Christian neighborhoods, bookmakers and bars are generally permitted to operate, though they could also face consequences if the Hisbah believes that Muslims are patronizing them.

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Currently, the focus of the crackdown is on Muslim areas within Kano, a vast city and the economic center of northern Nigeria.

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Sports betting establishments are widespread throughout the city, with many featuring televisions for customers to watch the outcomes of international football matches or horse races they have bet on.

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Mr. Aminudeen mentioned that these bookmakers had managed to operate covertly by opening under false pretenses.

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“They don’t have licences to operate as they were given permission to run video games centres, which they later converted to betting shops," he said.

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The sports betting sector has seen significant growth in recent years throughout the West African nation, which is primarily split between a predominantly Muslim north and a largely Christian south.

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Many individuals visit bookmakers for the social interaction with fellow gamblers, although mobile apps for wagering on events and teams have also gained popularity.

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Nigeria's severe economic crisis has driven many to take risks with small amounts of money in hopes of achieving substantial winnings.

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However, this has resulted in widespread addiction, with parents expressing concerns that children are leaving school to engage in gambling, Mr. Aminudeen stated.

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“These economic issues we are facing in Nigeria is God telling us to change our ways by stopping sins," he said.

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The raids on Tuesday had focused on Munjibir, considered a resort area in the north-east of the city - with visitors flocking there at weekends.

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“I am advising those running those betting shops to either shut down or we’ll arrest them and take them to [a Sharia] court,” Mr Aminudeen said.

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It is not clear what punishment they would face - often such infringements carry a fine.

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Sharia was introduced in Kano in 2000 - as it was in 11 other Muslim-majority northern states - and prostitution, gambling and the consumption of alcohol were banned.

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