Some of the girls who were recently arrested by the Kano State Hisbah Board, over alleged involvement in immoral acts, have confessed not guilty to offences they were accused of, describing the arrest as unjust and violation of their fundamental human rights.
GOOD EVENING NIGERIA reports that Kano Hisbah Board launched a coordinated raid on some hotels in the metropolis, and arrested about 190 young girls and boys for alleged involvement in immoral acts.
The suspects were apprehended in various locations, including Sarina Hotel, La Sultana, Phicolo, Banana Island Green Park, Hospital Road, Danbare and Kabuga during a special operation (Operation Kawar da badala).
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The operatives said they made the arrest at night, between 10pm to 12pm, which they said people were expected to be at home.
However, most of the arrested suspects, told Daily Trust they are innocent.
Maryam Umar, 19, a student of Federal College of Agriculture, said she was at the hotel to buy food when she was arrested.
“I was at the hotel to buy food when I heard people chanting Allahu Akbar, and before I knew it, we were caught and put inside their vehicle,” she said.
Another girl who identified herself as Fatima Isa, said that she and her friend were at the place to buy roasted fish.
“I came to buy fish. I was about to leave the place when the Hisbah operatives arrived and we were arrested, alongside other girls. What pains me most is how we were identified by the Hisbah as yan iska (wayward).”
Ruqayya Aminu, 18, also a student of Federal College of Agriculture, accused Hisbah of the reason she missed her exams.
“We went to buy food at Sultana and were waiting for our order when they suddenly appeared. At first, we thought they were phone snatchers. I showed them my student identity card and told them that I had exams the next day but they still proceeded with their arrest,” she said.
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Aisha, who said she sold snacks at Banana Island, accused Hisbah operatives of not being fair in their arrests, noting that no amount of threat would make her close her business.
“I sell snacks at Banana Island. Everybody knows that I tried my best to make them understand that I go there for business purposes, but all my pleas fell on deaf ears. This will not stop me from doing my business,” she said.
While the arrest has received condemnation, with many faulting the manner which the suspects were arrested, the deputy commandant-general of the Hisbah Board (operation), Dr Mujahid Aminudeen, the arrest was constitutional and it will not hesitate to continue with what it is doing to see that the people are on the right track and shun social vices.
“As you know, Hisbah was established under the law, so we are operating within the law that governs the Board. We launched a series of raids on hotels, tagged ‘Operation kau da badala’. Our men were able to go out on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 to 12pm and made arrests of those girls at various hotels in the metropolis,” he said.
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Aminudeen said all the girls and boys arrested were already taken to court for prosecution.
“We screened and immediately referred them to the legal department for further action. And I can tell you that they have been arraigned before a Shariah Court where they would face the wrath of the law,” he said. (Daily Trust and Good Evening Nigeria)