Major Controversies of Hisbah Under Daurawa

Hisbah is a religious community policing that upholds good morals and enforces the Islamic Shari’a law, enjoining people to do good and shun evils.

In Kano State, Hisbah was made an agency in 2003 during the stint of the Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, with its operations put under the jurisdiction of a Board (Hisbah Board) comprising police officers, religious leaders and government officials.

This led to the passage of Kano State Hisbah Law, making it a government institution with different departments such as operation department, intelligence and crime detection department, Da’awah department, guidance and counselling, among others.

The Board was first headed by Malam Yahaya Chedi, who was later succeeded by Sheikh Ibrahim Mu’azzam. Thereafter, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, a renowned Islamic scholar in Kano, was made Commander General of the Hisbah Board and served two terms during the stint of former Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso and the first tenure of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

After his resignation in 2018, Daurawa was reappointed for the third time in 2023 by Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, following which he (Daurawa) swung into action, making efforts to check immorality and address other societal anomalies, in line with the objectives that established the Hisbah Board.

During Daurawa’s third term as Commander General of Hisbah, controversies trailed the Board’s activities, especially with regard to method of its operations.

Raids on Hotels

In 2023, Kano State Hisbah Board raided hotels in the metropolis and apprehended 190 persons for alleged involvement in immoral acts.

However, most of the suspects who spoke to Daily Trust said they were not guilty of what they were accused of as they were out going about their routines when the raid was launched.

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 arrested girl who identified herself as Fatima Isa, said, “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).”

Ahmad Sani, 25, claimed to be selling secondhand clothes at the Phicolo joint earning a living when he was arrested .

The Kano State Hisbah Board, in February 2024, confiscated 8,600 bottles of beer loaded in a van coming from Kaduna to Kano State.

The Board also arrested women allegedly involved in commercial sex work, a move many have described as good development.

Hisbah Accounts Frozen Over Lawsuit

Following a lawsuit against the Hisbah board by hotel owners in the state, the accounts of the board were frozen.

Reacting to the development, Hisbah’s Daurawa said, “We received a court document alleging misconduct at two hotels, resulting in charges of N700,000 and N100,000 respectively. The document demanded a combined payment of N800,000, leading to the closure of our accounts.

“We should be told about the offence we have committed so that we can ask our lawyers to participate in the discussion. If we fail to defend ourselves, then we will be judged.”

‘Hisbah’s action violation of Human Right’

The country director, Centre for International Human Right, Colonel Kaoji Mohammed (retd), described Hisbah’s action as a violation of human rights, saying it is a trespass into people’s privacy.

“Even in Islam, it is not permissible for anybody to trespass into someone’s privacy. How can you enter people’s rooms in the name of arresting them? This absolutely goes against human right,” he had said.

Gov Abba faults Hisbah’s mode of operations

In a response to the activities of Hisbah, the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, faulted the Board, stating that their activities will be looked into.

“I saw a video that disrupted my peace. You parked cars and went to where males and females were doing unholy things. They were picked up and beaten with bamboo sticks while they took to their heels. They were being packed up inside the vehicle like animals. This, I think, is a big mistake for you to hold an adult and throw him like a goat into a Hilux.

“Hisbah is a board that we take in high esteem and we brought in God fearing people that we know can deliver on the people’s mandate in line with what is right.” the Governor said.

Allegations of Sexual Assault by Hisbah Officers

In 2021, the Kano State Police arrested Sani Remo, a Hisbah corps, for allegedly having an affair with a married woman in a hotel room.

Following the arrest, the Hisbah requested for the bail of the suspect and after negotiations, the case was referred to the Headquarters of the Hisbah for further investigation.

In November 2023, the Kano State Hisbah Board dismissed a Deputy Superintendent of Hisbah (DSH) and declared him wanted over alleged sabotage of board’s efforts to fight against immorality and social vices in the state.

The then CG of Hisbah, Sheiykh Daurawa, in a statement, said: “He usually connived with the hotel operators so that their hotels would not be raided by Hisbah in the course of its operations.”

He added that five other personnel were also under investigation.

Alleged Shaving of Lady with Bottle

The Hisbah officials, in November 2023, were accused of shaving a non-Kano-indigene woman with a bottle after raiding brothel houses and hotels in the state.

The board, however, dismissed the allegation, describing it as a mischief aimed at undermining its efforts.

Arrest of Tik Tokers

In February 2024, Kano State Hisbah Board, under Sheiykh Daurawa, arrested popular TikToker, Murja Ibrahim Kunya, at her residence in Tinshama area in Kano, over alleged immorality.

The development came few months after Daurawa invited all female Tiktokers and other social media entertainers in Kano to a session and offered to rehabilitate and empower them with businesses and scholarships.

Days after her arrest, Kunya reportedly escaped from the Kano Correctional Facility.

This has elicited public reactions and concerns, with many people expressing surprise over the unexpected incident.

A Kano State Shari’ah Court presided over by Nura Yusuf Ahmad later directed Kunya to undergo a psychiatric evaluation at a government hospital to ascertain her mental status, an action some have decried would give room for others to continue doing their evils.

Clerics Call on Daurawa to Rescind Decision

With the resignation of Sheiykh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa as Commander General of Kano State Hisbah Board, clerics have expressed displeasure over the decision he took.

In a video clip, Dr. Abdullahi Usman Gadon Kaya, a Kano-based cleric, called on Daurawa to revise his decision, saying the Sheiykh has helped the state significantly in many aspects. “Daurawa is such an important person that should not be dispensed with. He has brought forth different good initiatives in the state such as the Mass Wedding Initiative (Auren Zawarawa) and helped in combating vices in the society.

“I call on you to reconsider your decision as your resignation from this position will only give room for evil doers to continue perpetuating their evils.”