The Muslim Council of Taraba State has officially banned all forms of wedding parties within Jalingo, the state capital, following wide consultations with Islamic clerics, traditional rulers, and local authorities.
The decision, announced over the weekend, specifically targets popular social events such as Kauyawa and Ajo parties, which are often associated with large gatherings of youths dressed in tattered clothing and dancing late into the night.
The ban was the main focus of last Friday’s Khutbah (sermon) delivered by all imams in Jummat mosques across Jalingo.
Speaking on behalf of the council, Imam Tajudeen Nuhu, Chief Imam of Mayo Gwoi Jummat Mosque, declared that “henceforth, it is forbidden for any household to hold Kauyawa parties, Ajo, or any form of celebration during weddings here in Jalingo.”
According to him, stiff sanctions await defaulters: no imam will officiate their Nikah (marriage contract), and religious rites such as funeral prayers, naming ceremonies, and wedding lectures will not be conducted in their homes.
Clerics were also cautioned against attending such prohibited gatherings or risk losing their positions.
The Muslim Council urged strict compliance with the directive, stressing that the ban is in the interest of upholding Islamic values and maintaining social order in the state capital.
