Yudi Motorcycle Stunt Riding Phenomenon among Muslim Youth in Gombe Metropolis: A Qur’anic Evaluation

Abstract

Risky motorcycle displays on public roads raise concerns about safety and social responsibility, yet the relationship between social recognition and Qur’anic ethics in Gombe’s Yudi practice remains underexamined in the comparative literature reviewed. This study examined the practice and its implications through a Qur’anic ethical framework. The qualitative study drew on semi-structured interviews with 12 participants: eight male Muslim riders aged 17–25 years, two traffic enforcement officers, and two clinicians. Interviews were audio-recorded with verbal consent, transcribed, translated where necessary, and thematically analyzed. The findings were subsequently interpreted through principles concerning life, intellect, property, and road users’ rights. Riders linked participation to peer recognition and digital visibility, while five of the eight reported nonmedical substance use in connection with stunt riding. Clinicians and officers described injuries, risks to other road users, motorcycle damage, and enforcement difficulties. These accounts were not independently verified using clinical records, crash records, or platform data. The ethical analysis emphasized harm prevention, responsible resource use, humility, and respect for shared public space. The study proposes religious community education alongside proportionate enforcement and safety services. It contributes a contextual ethical interpretation of Yudi that connects participants’ accounts with Qur’anic principles, while leaving causal relationships and intervention effectiveness undetermined.