Kano Hisbah Arrested Us In Our Hostels, Conducted HIV, Pregnancy Tests On Us — Bayero University Student Narrates Ordeal

According to a report by SaharaReporters, a postgraduate student of Bayero University Kano has narrated her encounter with officials of the Islamic police, Hisbah corps.
 
The lady told SaharaReporters that Hisbah officials barged into her hostel some months ago while she was cooking and arrested her because she had a male guest with her.

She said she was taken to a building alongside the male guest where she saw 30 other students of the institution and some others who were not students.
 
According to her, they were detained for about a day or two within which the Hisbah officials conducted HIV and pregnancy tests on them.

She alleged that the officers forcibly gave abortion pills to one of them whose pregnancy test was positive.

She said the victim cried bitterly.
 
She further alleged that the officers requested sex in exchange for their freedom while others were released on bail ranging from N15, 000 to N20, 000.
 
She said, “I had an encounter with Hisbah about two months ago. I am currently a master's student at BUK. Hisbah officers barged into my room, they met me with a male guest. I was cooking, they knocked and I opened the door. They arrested us both and took us to a building of theirs, held us hostage for a day.
 
“They took our phones from us. We met other people there, many others. About 30 students of BUK or more while others were non-students. They had arrested some prostitutes too. All of us were held at the same building. While we were there, some funny things happened.
 
“The Hisbah officials conducted HIV and pregnancy tests for everyone there. Those who tested positive for HIV were taken to the hospital and one person's pregnancy test was positive.
 
“She was given a drug to abort the pregnancy without her consent, this happened in the same building where they took us hostage. When we confronted the woman who gave the pills for the abortion because she claimed to be a health worker, the woman said they were doing that because the girls were prostitutes.
 
“The girl cried so hard. She cried from the pain of the forceful abortion and losing her child. I saw her washed blood. They gave her N500 to buy food.
 
“While we were also there, the Hisbah boys were asking girls there to have sex with them, saying they would release them. Some ladies there slept with them in the building, then let them go.
 
“One of the boys physically abused me. He didn’t rape me because it was in the open. But he was touching sensitive parts of my body. I could only hit his hand.
 
“I boldly told them I was not aware that men can’t visit me. I have men in my class, in my church, in my house. Most of the occupants in my house are men. Why will they take me?
 
“They asked for 'a ransom' (bail money) from everyone there. I didn’t pay though because my uncle came and took me home. I didn't pay a dime but others paid between N15, 000 and N20, 000. I thought our school would come for us.

“Some Igbo ladies there told me they just lodged in a hotel, two sisters, they came to the market to buy foodstuffs and lodged in the hotel. The Hisbah corps forcefully barged into their hotel room and took both of them. In fact, just two ladies, no man but Hisbah was like, why should they lodge in the hotel, that they are prostitutes. They said after all, what are hotels for.

“They took people from the streets, hotels, and houses.”

Officials of Hisbah in March similarly invaded some off-campus hostels at Danbare, a small community directly opposite the university’s gate.

It was learnt that the Islamic police broke into the students’ rooms and took them to their office.

Despite condemnation from Nigerians, the Hisbah group has continued its push for an Islamic agenda in the North.

The agency established to enforce Sharia law in some states in the region recently banned stylish haircuts, sagging of trousers, playing of music at social events by disk jockeys and tricycle riders from adorning their vehicles with pictures considered to be obscene and against the tenents of Islam.

This was in addition to other unusual directives reeled out by the Islamic police.

Hisbah recently made headlines for shaving stylish haircuts of young men in Kano and arresting people for improper dressing.

They are also notorious for destroying truckloads of alcoholic drinks.