Islamic authorities in Kano, a northern city in Nigeria, have begun shutting down sports betting establishments, claiming they are operating without legal authorization.“As you know betting is forbidden in Islam,” Mujahid Aminudeen, deputy chief of the Sharia police force, known as the Hisbah, told the BBC.

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

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

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

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

“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.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.

Many individuals visit bookmakers for the social interaction with fellow gamblers, although mobile apps for wagering on events and teams have also gained popularity.Nigeria's severe economic crisis has driven many to take risks with small amounts of money in hopes of achieving substantial winnings.However, this has resulted in widespread addiction, with parents expressing concerns that children are leaving school to engage in gambling, Mr.

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

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