Kano, Nigeria – The Kano State Hisbah Board has confirmed the arrest of 25 individuals, including 18 men and 7 women, for allegedly organizing a same-sex marriage ceremony in the state. The arrests were made on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at the Fatima Event Centre in the Hotoro area of Kano. The operation followed a tip-off from a concerned resident, according to a statement released on Sunday by Hisbah Deputy Commander, Mujahedeen Aminudeen.
“We got a report that some people are allegedly organising same-sex marriage. Our personnel stormed the venue and successfully arrested 25 persons,” Aminudeen stated. The Sharia police agency emphasized that it would not tolerate any activities considered to tarnish Kano’s reputation or violate its established moral codes.
The Deputy Commander noted that the suspects, including the alleged “groom,” hailed from various areas within and around Kano, such as Sheka, Yar Gaya, and Kofar Nasarawa. He insisted that the individuals would face charges once investigations are complete. Aminudeen further appealed to the public to actively support the board’s efforts by reporting immoral activities, reaffirming the Hisbah’s commitment to maintaining the state’s moral standards. “We are calling on members of the public to support the board by reporting immoral activities in the state,” he urged, adding, “The board will continue to raid such places that promote immorality.”
Anatomy of an Arrest: Examining the Hisbah Raid and Kano’s Moral Policing
The arrest of 25 individuals—18 men and 7 women—by the Kano State Hisbah Board on October 25, 2025, over an alleged same-sex marriage is more than just a local news item; it is a sharp reminder of the volatile intersection of federal law, Sharia doctrine, and social conservatism in Nigeria’s largest northern city.
The Hisbah, often described as the Sharia police, operates with the mandate of enforcing moral rectitude in the state. Deputy Commander Mujahedeen Aminudeen’s swift statement confirming the arrests at the Fatima Event Centre in Hotoro, following a “tip-off” from a resident, highlights the agency’s reliance on community surveillance and its commitment to public visibility.
The core of this incident rests on Nigeria’s notoriously harsh anti-LGBTQ legislation. The suspects face potential prosecution under two overlapping, severe legal frameworks:
The Federal Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act (SSMPA): Passed in 2014, this act is a sweeping federal law that criminalizes not just same-sex marriage with a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment, but also the public display of same-sex “amorous relationships” and participation in related organizations, carrying up to 10 years imprisonment. The Hisbah’s charge of “organising a same-sex marriage” falls directly under the most severe clause of the SSMPA.
Kano’s Sharia Penal Code: As a state that implements Sharia law, Kano’s judicial system can try Muslims under its penal code. For same-sex sexual acts (liwat for men, a similar offence for women), the maximum penalty is death by stoning. While these extreme sentences are rarely enforced, the threat remains a powerful deterrent and a potent tool for the Hisbah to assert its authority and commitment to “maintain Kano’s moral standards,” as Aminudeen vowed.
Policing Morality: An Instrument of Social Control
The Hisbah’s action, while legally grounded within Kano’s framework, serves as a mechanism of social control that aims to draw a clear line against what is deemed “immoral.”
Public Deterrence: By issuing a public statement and urging residents to continue reporting “immoral activities,”the Hisbah uses the high-profile nature of the arrest to send a clear signal that activities perceived as Western or contrary to Islamic values will not be tolerated. This tactic reinforces the agency’s power and its relevance in a socially conservative environment.
The “Immorality” Narrative: Aminudeen’s insistence that the arrests were necessary because such activities “tarnish Kano’s reputation” frames the issue as one of communal honour and preservation of the state’s identity. This narrative resonates with a large segment of the population that supports the Hisbah’s role.
The challenge for the 25 detainees is significant. While past mass arrests on similar grounds have sometimes ended in the suspects being released after caution, the formal nature of this announcement and the specific mention of the alleged “groom” suggest the Hisbah is preparing a strong case. This event highlights the precariousness of life for LGBTQ+ individuals in Nigeria, where a communal tip-off can instantly trigger the full force of two highly punitive legal systems.
