The Kano State Hisbah Board has conducted a major operation resulting in the arrest of seven individuals suspected of cross-dressing. The late-night raid targeted a well-known social spot in the heart of Kano city, leading to significant consequences for the establishment and those involved.
Intelligence-Led Operation Nets Suspects
Acting on specific intelligence reports, Hisbah operatives stormed a popular joint located along Zoo Road in Kano. Sheikh Mujahid Aminudeen Abubakar, the Deputy Commander General of the Hisbah Board, confirmed that the intelligence pointed to alleged illicit activities taking place at the venue.
During the operation, which took place on November 19, 2025, all seven suspects were apprehended. Authorities revealed a striking detail about the individuals taken into custody: every one of them is a teenager below the age of 23.
Geographical Spread and Additional Arrests
Preliminary investigations conducted by the Hisbah Board uncovered that the suspects had traveled from different parts of the country to gather at the Kano establishment. The young men originated from Kogi, Bauchi, and Kano states, according to official statements.
The operation yielded additional results beyond the primary target. Hisbah operatives also arrested a young man and a woman found together inside a tricycle near the scene. In a separate but related development, the board successfully traced a missing woman to Sokoto and facilitated her reunion with her parents.
Sheikh Mujahid emphasized that the board would soon seal off the joint where the main arrests occurred, indicating zero tolerance for what they described as immoral acts.
Pattern of Enforcement and Legal Context
This recent operation follows a similar pattern of enforcement by the Kano State Hisbah Board. Just recently, in the Gaida area of Kumbotso Local Government Area, six suspected cross-dressers were arrested following complaints from local residents. In that previous incident, the suspects reportedly confessed and pleaded for leniency.
The board's enforcement actions extend beyond cross-dressing allegations. In October 2025, Hisbah police made headlines when they arrested 25 young people accused of organizing a gay wedding in Kano. That operation saw 18 men and seven women, all in their early twenties, taken into custody from an event center.
Under the sharia law that operates parallel to state and federal systems in 12 northern Nigerian states including Kano, homosexuality is punishable by death according to local interpretation, though this sentence has never been enforced.
The Hisbah Board has reiterated its commitment to tackling social vices throughout Kano State. Sheikh Mujahid urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the board or other appropriate authorities. All suspects and operators of the sealed facility will be handed over to relevant authorities for further investigation and potential prosecution.
