The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has rejected the recent Hisbah Directorates Bill passed by the Niger State House of Assembly to ensure see promotion and enforcement of Sharia Law in the state.

In a statement by the chairman of the Niger State chapter of CAN, Bulus Yohanna, the association warned that the bill, sponsored by a member representing Chanchaga Constituency, Mohammed Abubakar, risked creating segregation among people.

Mr Yohanna, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, appealed to the Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, not to sign the bill into law, questioning the economic and social benefits of Sharia Law to people of the state.

He said, “Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, we, the entire Christendom in the state wish to draw your attention to what could easily create division amongst the people you govern, and you should not sign the bill into law.

“Why Hisbah law in Niger? What is the aim? Of what benefit is it to our people economically and socially? Do they (lawmakers) realize that Christians will not be subjected to Hisbah law?.”

If signed into law by Mr Bago, Niger State will become the first North-Central state to implement state-backed enforcement of Sharia Law.

Observers also note that the implementation of Sharia Law may elicit fresh response from the Trump administration, which is arguing that Christians are facing persecution from both state and non-state actors in Nigeria.

“Both federal and some state governments enforce anti-blasphemy laws. One individual was sentenced to 24 years in prison for “insulting the Prophet Mohammed.” Others face the death penalty for similar reasons,” U.S. lawmaker Riley Moore, said last year.

Mr Moore is one of the key U.S. political figures spearheading the investigation of ‘persecution’ of Christians in Nigeria following his appointment by President Donald Trump to lead the operation.