On a day like today, June 21, 2000, over one million people gathered at Idi Square in the heart of Kano city to witness the launch of Islamic Sharia law in the state with the largest population in northern Nigeria.
On October 27, 1999, the then-Governor of Zamfara State, Ahmed Sani Yerima, announced that his state would begin implementing Sharia law. Eleven other northern Nigerian states with Muslim majorities, including Kano and Kaduna, followed suit. Christians staged protests against the move, as they were uncertain of the consequences. This led to unrest and the loss of thousands of lives.
Zamfara State was the first to launch Islamic Sharia law on January 27, 2000, followed by Kano State, where the then-Governor, Dr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, launched it on June 27, 2000.
Sokoto and Katsina states followed Kano's example, also launching the Sharia legal system by the end of the year 2000.
Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kebbi, and Yobe states also joined the ranks of those that had launched Sharia earlier in 2001.
As for Kaduna, Niger, and Gombe states, they launched Islamic Sharia law only in areas where Muslims are in the majority, given that these states have large, religiously diverse populations.
The Muslim community was overjoyed with the launch of Sharia at that time.
Islamic Sharia law has a long history in northern Nigeria, as it was used in the Sokoto Caliphate, Borno, Kano, and other cities long before British colonial rule in the 19th century. It had a significant impact, and its benefits were recognized, leading to continuous calls for the reintroduction of the Sharia system after Nigeria gained independence in 1960. However, this did not materialize until 1999, when Nigeria returned to civilian rule after several decades of military governance.