Niger State Denies Claims of Ban on Preaching by Clerics

The Niger State Government has refuted circulating reports suggesting that Islamic scholars and other religious leaders have been prohibited from preaching, describing the claims as false and misleading.

In a statement from Ambassador Haruna Mustapha, Media Aide to the Director of the Bureau for Religious Affairs, the government clarified that no such directive has been issued.

“The Niger State Bureau for Religious Affairs is aware of reports on social and print media alleging a ban on preaching in the state. These reports are inaccurate and amount to misinformation,” the statement read.

Director of the Bureau, Umar Farooq Abdullahi, stressed that the agency does not have the authority to impose a blanket ban on religious activities.

“The Bureau may only intervene when established guidelines are violated. At no point have we issued a general prohibition on preaching,” Abdullahi explained.

The government called on the public to ignore unverified reports and rely on official channels for accurate information.

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