Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Kebbi State Hisbah Board has arrested a married woman and five other persons during a raid on a hotel in Birnin Kebbi over alleged immoral conduct, the agency announced on Friday, May 15, 2026. The six suspects, comprising three men and three women, were apprehended on Thursday, May 14, at a hotel located behind the Presidential Lodge in the state capital, according to a statement issued by the Director of Shariah at the board, Sirajo Kamba.
Kamba told journalists that the raid was prompted by intelligence gathered by the agency following reports from members of the public. “On May 14, the Kebbi Hisbah Board carried out a raid at a hotel located behind the Presidential Lodge, where three men and three women were found engaging in immoral acts,” he said. “Following reports from members of the public, Hisbah officials stormed the location and arrested the individuals involved. Investigations are ongoing, and necessary action will be taken in accordance with the law and the board’s regulations.”
The director added that preliminary investigations revealed that one of the women arrested was married, a discovery he described as deeply troubling. “This underscores the need for stronger moral upbringing and fear of God in the society,” Kamba advised. He urged parents to closely monitor their children’s movements and activities to prevent them from engaging in behaviours that undermine societal values and dignity.
The raid is the latest in a series of enforcement actions by the Kebbi Hisbah Board, which operates under the state’s Ministry of Religious Affairs. In late April 2026, the board raided two hotels and arrested four individuals, including a married mother of four who was allegedly receiving money from men for sexual intercourse in order to feed her orphaned children. In February 2026, the board arrested 11 persons, comprising eight women and three men, at an unregistered hotel in the Badariya area of Birnin Kebbi for allegedly engaging in illicit affairs.
The board’s activities, however, have not been without controversy. Critics have raised constitutional, ethical, and human rights concerns about morality policing, which is practised in several northern Nigerian states. Opponents argue that Hisbah enforcement is often arbitrary, lacks due process, and creates an atmosphere of fear while violating personal liberties. The tension between Sharia law, which dictates the actions of Hisbah in many northern states, and the secular, democratic rights guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution remains a persistent flashpoint. Morality police are often accused of harassment, unlawful detention, and, in some cases, violence against citizens, particularly targeting young people and women.
Despite these criticisms, the Kebbi State Government has continued to support the Hisbah Board’s mandate. In October 2025, the government co‑opted the Hisbah as a security outfit and announced a N100 million donation to support its operations. The move was seen as an official endorsement of the board’s role in enforcing moral codes and maintaining public order.
Kamba, however, dismissed the criticism, insisting that the board acts within the law and only responds to legitimate complaints from the public. “We do not go on fishing expeditions,” he said. “We act on credible intelligence and reports from concerned citizens. Our goal is to protect society from behaviours that erode our values and dignity.”
The six suspects remain in custody as investigations continue. The board has not disclosed whether they will be charged in court or face other sanctions under Sharia law. Meanwhile, residents of Birnin Kebbi have expressed mixed reactions. Some have praised the board for its vigilance, while others have questioned why the agency continues to target hotels rather than addressing deeper societal issues such as poverty, unemployment, and lack of recreational facilities.
As the debate over morality policing in northern Nigeria continues, the Kebbi Hisbah Board has made it clear that it will not relent. “We will continue to carry out our duties in accordance with the law and the teachings of Islam,” Kamba said. “Parents must take responsibility for their children. We cannot do it alone.”
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