14th June, 2024
By Abbas Bamalli
New Palace Hotel, located within the Katsina metropolis in Katsina State has been shut by the Shariah Police, otherwise called Hisbah for allegedly harboring underage girls.
The Katsina State Hisbah Board ordered the immediate closure of the hotel.
Dr Aminu Usman (Abu Ammar), Katsina Hisbah Commander General said the hotel was closed because it violated an agreement earlier reached with hoteliers across the state.
According to him, the Hibah board discovered that two underage girls lodged in the same room in the hotel during a recent inspection.
He said the discovery contravened the hisbah laws.
“The hotel violated the board’s regulations by allowing underage girls to stay at the premises.
“The board discovered that two underage girls were lodged in the same room during a recent inspection, which contravenes the hisbah laws.
“This is the second time such an offence was committed at the New Palace Hotel, inspite of previous warnings by the board and a promise by the hotel’s management to stop such incidents.”
He added that during a collaborative meeting with hotel managers across the state, they agreed that no hotel would accommodate underage children.
“Due to the hotel’s failure to comply with the board’s regulations and meet the stipulated conditions, we have decided to shut it down with immediate effect.
“We remain committed to enforcing reforms and instilling discipline that aligns with the religious and cultural values of the state under the rule of law to ensure lasting peace,” the commander said. (NAN)
AABS/SH