Prostitutes Flee Kano As Sharia Group Arrests 1,000

Local prostitutes are fleeing Kano, North-West Nigeria, in their numbers following a  recent clampdown on their activities within the ancient city by operatives of the  Hisbah Command, a Sharia’ah enforcement agency.

No fewer than 1362 women of easy virtues were apprehended by the Sharia’ah  enforcement agency in recent times in line with the state government’s policy to  keep faith with the Islamic injunction.

Most of these females were arrested at different times in different locations within  and outside Kano metropolis, in most cases, with their patrons.

Record from the Sahrada headquarters of Hisbah indicates that about 152 males were  arrested by the agency in the last quarter, bringing the total number to 1514.

“These suspects, mostly youths, were apprehended while engaging in social vices  including prostitution and drug abuse,” Alhaji Saidu Dukawa, Director-General of  Hisbah Board told P.M.NEWS

According to him, out of the number of suspects arrested, 33 were handed over to  National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other related matters,  NAPTIP, while 27 of them identified as drug addicts and peddlers were transferred to  National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

He further stated that the agency charged about 364 of the suspects to Shari’ah  Court, “360 were repatriated, including those taken to Christian Association of  Nigeria, CAN, because we identified them as Christians and we believe the best to do  is to hand them over to CAN”.

“Moreso, about 750 youths were warned and released unconditionally, after undergoing  intensive counselling. We are also working with the state Directorate of Societal  Re-Orientation to rehabilitate some of the youths who turned a new leaf as a result  of counselling,” Dukawa added.

However, investigation by P.M.NEWS indicates that some of these local prostitutes  who came from Borno, Adamawa, Plateau and Kaduna states have started fleeing Kano  for the fear of the Hisbah wrath.

This development has also given rise to unprecedented influx of Hausa prostitutes  into Sabon Gari, an enclave in the ancient city predominantly inhabited by  non-Muslims.

Some community leaders and sellers of alcoholic drinks and spirits had engaged  Hisbah in a running battle over its operation within Sabon Gari, known as a “free  zone.”

The remaining local prostitutes who could not leave the state have taken refuge in  the Sabon Gari axis where they believe the Hisbah sledge hammer may be too short to  reach.

P.M.NEWS checks reveal that they have increased the tempo of night-life in some  cheap brothels within Sabon Gari, including the notorious Abedi Street, known as an  abode for local prostitutes.

—Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano