The Kano State Hisbah Board has confirmed the arrest of seven young people accused of cross-dressing and engaging in what the board described as “immoral activities” during a late-night raid in Kano.

According to Deputy Commander General Sheikh Mujahid Aminudeen Abubakar, the arrests took place at a popular joint along Zoo Road in Kano Municipal after a tip-off from a resident who reported suspicious gatherings at the location. He explained that all the suspects are under the age of 23 and had come from different states, including Kogi, Bauchi, and Kano, to participate in activities deemed inappropriate by the board.

He added that the board will seal off the joint for allegedly harbouring underage youths involved in immoral behaviour. 

“The suspects and the operators of the facility will be handed over to the relevant authorities for further actions,” he said. 

The Hisbah operatives also apprehended a young man and a woman found together inside a tricycle during the operation. In addition, Sheikh Mujahid revealed that a missing young lady was traced to Sokoto and reunited with her parents as part of the broader enforcement exercise.

Preliminary investigations suggested that the joint had become a hub for underage youths, with vehicles frequently arriving to pick them up. As a result, Hisbah announced plans to seal off the establishment, citing its role in harboring individuals involved in “immoral acts.”

The arrests have sparked conversations across Kano and beyond, reflecting the ongoing tension between Hisbah’s enforcement of religious and moral codes and broader debates about personal freedoms. Hisbah, the Islamic police operating under Sharia law in Kano State, has long been active in regulating behavior it considers contrary to Islamic values, including alcohol consumption, indecent dressing, and gender relations.

For critics, the arrests highlight concerns about human rights and the policing of identity, while supporters argue that Hisbah is fulfilling its mandate to uphold morality in society. As the suspects remain in custody, the case underscores the complex intersection of religion, law, and personal expression in northern Nigeria.