The Kano State Hisbah Board has arrested 22 persons, including the manager of Stephrica Guest Palace located at Kureken Sani in Kumbotso Local Government Area of the state, over alleged immoral conduct.

The suspects were apprehended during a raid on the hotel on Wednesday following intelligence reports.

Confirming the development in a WhatsApp message to PUNCH Online on Thursday, the Deputy Commandant of the board, Dr Mujahid Aminudeen, said the suspects comprised 10 males and 11 females.

According to him, the operation was carried out after the board received credible information from members of the public.

“The suspects were arrested following intelligence reports from concerned residents that they were gathered in the hotel engaging in activities considered immoral.

“Regrettably, the 21 occupants are mostly teenagers, with ages ranging between 12 and 19 years. We are using this opportunity to warn hotel owners against allowing underage persons access to their facilities or face sanctions,” he said.

Aminudeen warned that the board would continue to enforce compliance with moral standards as prescribed under Shari’a law, urging residents to continue providing useful information to authorities.

He added that the identities of the suspects, including the hotel manager, would be disclosed after due legal processes are completed.

“The suspects will be charged in court upon conclusion of investigations,” he stated.

The Kano State Hisbah Board is a government-backed Islamic moral enforcement body established to promote social order and ensure compliance with Shari’a principles in Kano State. The board operates mainly in areas such as the prevention of alcohol consumption, prostitution, public indecency, and other acts considered contrary to Islamic moral codes.

Hisbah’s operations are backed by the Kano State Hisbah Board Law enacted in the early 2000s following the reintroduction of the Shari’a legal framework in several northern Nigerian states. The board often conducts raids on hotels, event centres and other locations suspected of hosting activities considered immoral.

Kano is among the states in northern Nigeria that operate a dual legal system combining civil law with Shari’a law, particularly in matters relating to moral conduct for Muslims. The Hisbah Board has, over the years, carried out similar enforcement actions, often warning business owners against facilitating activities considered unlawful under the state’s moral code. (The PUNCH)