Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Jigawa State Hisbah Corps has arrested eight men over alleged homosexual acts in Kazaure Local Government Area, following a complaint lodged by a 22-year-old resident who claimed he contracted HIV as a result of the encounters. The arrests were confirmed in a statement issued on Saturday, September 26, 2026, by the Hisbah Public Relations Officer, Dauda Muhammad Hadejia, in Dutse, the state capital.
According to the statement, the complainant, a resident of the Kanti area of Kazaure town, alleged that nine individuals had engaged in same-sex acts with him on different occasions. He told the Hisbah authorities that he subsequently tested positive for HIV, which he attributed to the alleged acts, and appealed for justice over what he described as deception and actions that had negatively affected his life.
Following the complaint, Hisbah operatives launched an investigation and began searching for the nine individuals named by the complainant. Eight suspects were arrested, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspect. During preliminary investigations, the eight arrested suspects reportedly admitted to having engaged in the act with the complainant. The Hisbah Corps said it had compiled relevant information and evidence for presentation before a court.
The Deputy Commander-General of the Jigawa State Hisbah Corps, Dr Hussain Yusuf Baban, confirmed the incident and said the arrests followed the young man's complaint. He urged parents to pay greater attention to the upbringing of their children and monitor the people they associate with. Baban also called on members of the public to fear God and remain mindful of the consequences of their actions. He commended the Jigawa State Government for its continued support and cooperation with the Hisbah Corps in carrying out its responsibilities.
The investigation is still ongoing, and the suspects will be charged to court upon its completion.
The arrest is the latest in a series of enforcement actions by Hisbah authorities in northern Nigeria concerning conduct considered contrary to Islamic teachings and state laws. In a 2020 case in Jigawa, Hisbah officials arrested two men in Dutse following a dispute over an alleged payment connected to a same-sex encounter. The suspects were subsequently handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution. The latest case, however, involves eight suspects and a complainant who says he has been permanently affected by the encounters.
The case raises difficult questions about public health, consent, and the role of religious law enforcement in addressing sensitive personal matters. The complainant's HIV-positive status adds a layer of urgency to the investigation, as health authorities may need to trace contacts and provide counselling and treatment. The Hisbah Corps has not disclosed whether it has involved health agencies in the matter, nor has it released the identities of the suspects.
Same-sex relationships are criminalised under Nigerian law, and Hisbah authorities in several northern states have actively enforced Islamic prohibitions against such acts. However, the involvement of a complainant who participated in the acts and later sought justice after contracting HIV is unusual. It suggests a complex situation in which the lines between victim and perpetrator are not clearly defined, and in which the complainant's motivations may be as much about personal grievance as about religious or legal principle.
For the eight men in custody, the coming weeks will determine their fate. They have allegedly confessed to the acts, and the Hisbah has said it has enough evidence to take them to court. For the ninth suspect still at large, the manhunt continues. For the complainant, the pursuit of justice may bring some closure, but it cannot undo the HIV diagnosis that prompted his complaint. And for the Hisbah Corps, the case is another test of its authority and its ability to balance religious enforcement with the complex realities of human behaviour in a deeply conservative society.
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