The Kebbi State Hisbah Command has intensified its moral enforcement drive with the arrest of 11 individuals at an unlicensed hotel in the Badariya area of Birnin Kebbi metropolis.
The operation, carried out late Friday night, followed a routine patrol by Hisbah operatives who reportedly became suspicious of activities at the facility, which was not registered with the relevant authorities.
Speaking on Saturday, the state Hisbah Commandant, Malam Suleiman Muhammed, said the suspects, eight women and three men, were apprehended around midnight while allegedly engaging in activities considered unlawful under the state’s moral regulations.
“The hotel was operating illegally, and the individuals found inside were involved in acts that violate our moral and social codes,” Muhammed said, adding that the enforcement team acted based on intelligence gathered during the patrol.
Moreover, preliminary findings revealed that none of those arrested are natives of Kebbi State.
According to the commandant, the suspects reportedly came from various states across both the northern and southern regions of the country.
He noted that investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and the operations of the hotel.
“Once our inquiries are concluded, the suspects will be formally charged and prosecuted in line with the law,” Muhammed stated.
Furthermore, the Hisbah boss issued a stern warning to residents and visitors, urging them to respect the state’s moral standards.
He reaffirmed the command’s resolve to sustain regular patrols and clamp down on illegal establishments.
“Our responsibility is to preserve social order and moral discipline,” he said. “We will not relent in ensuring that Kebbi remains a state governed by law and decency.”