Jigawa Hisbah arrests eight after complaint alleging homosexual acts

The Jigawa State Hisbah Board says it has arrested eight people after receiving a complaint alleging homosexual acts in Kazaure Local Government Area. Dauda Hadejia, the board’s public relations officer, said in a statement made available to PUNCH that the complaint came from a 22-year-old man in the Kanti area of Kazaure town. The complainant alleged that nine individuals had engaged in sexual acts with him on different occasions.

According to Hadejia, the man also said he later contracted HIV and attributed the infection to the alleged encounters. He reportedly asked the Hisbah authorities to seek justice over what he described as deception and actions that had negatively affected his life. Hadejia said operatives began investigating after receiving the complaint and started searching for the nine people named.

Eight had been arrested by the time of the statement, while efforts to locate the remaining person were continuing. The board’s spokesman said the eight arrested suspects reportedly admitted during preliminary investigations that they had engaged in the alleged acts with the complainant. He added that the Hisbah had compiled information and evidence for presentation before a court.

Hadejia quoted the board’s Deputy Commander-General, Hussain Baban, as urging parents to pay closer attention to their children’s upbringing and to monitor the people with whom they associate. Baban also called on members of the public to fear God and remain mindful of the consequences of their actions. The Hisbah said the investigation had not been completed.

Hadejia said the suspects would be charged to court after the inquiry, without providing further details about possible charges or the remaining suspect.