Amnesty International has condemned the Kano State Hisbah Board for disrupting an alleged same-sex marriage ceremony in Kano and arresting 25 persons suspected of being involved in the event.

MyNigeria learnt that the operation occurred on Saturday night along Hotoro Bypass in Tarauni Local Government Area of the state.

According to the Deputy Commander General (Special Operations) of the Hisbah Board, Sheikh Dr. Mujahid Aminuddeen Abubakar, a tip-off indicated that one Abubakar Idris was allegedly planning to marry another young man.

He said that when Hisbah operatives stormed the venue, they found a party in progress under dim lighting conditions.

“Upon arrival, our personnel discovered a gathering of young men and women who appeared to be conducting a marriage ceremony,” Dr. Mujahid said.

He disclosed that 25 individuals were arrested during the operation — 18 men, identified as ’yan daudu, and seven women from different areas, including Sheka, Yar Gaya, and Kofar Nasarawa.

He said the suspects were currently in Hisbah custody and will be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

In a statement, Amnesty International said, "Kano State Hisbah must end these humiliating and unlawful raids and misuse of laws to harass and arrest people accused of same-sex activity."

The rights group lamented that it is appalling that Hisbah can arbitrarily arrest people based on judgments of how they are dressed or how they have styled their hair.

"Invading people’s privacy on the suspicion that they may have been committing an offence is unlawful. No one should be targeted and arrested because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity," Amnesty said.

ASA