The northern Nigerian state of Zamfara is due to begin implementing Islamic law, known as Sharia, from today.

A ceremony will mark the swearing in of Sharia judges, and the formal opening of the courts.

The decision to introduce Sharia has been extremely controversial.

The BBC correspondent in Nigeria says Muslims, who are in the majority in the north of the country, have tended to welcome the move, while Christians, who dominate the south, have reacted with indignation.

The state governor, Ahmed Sani, has repeatedly stressed that Sharia will apply only to Muslims, and that Christians in Zamfara have nothing to fear. He said the law was intended to deal with prostitution, drunkeness, stealing, robbery and gambling. But our correspondent says it is not clear how the Nigerian police will cooperate with the new system, or what will happen in cases involving both Christians and Muslims. Several other states have said they also intend to introduce Sharia.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service