43 HIV Prostitutes Arrested

Forty-three commercial sex workers who have contracted the Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus, popularly referred to as HIV are among the 100 prostitutes arrested by Hisbah Guards, a local security outfit, in Kurna Gafan, Garun Malam Local Government Area of Kano, Northwest Nigeria.

The disclosure was made to P.M.NEWS this morning by the Director-General of the Hisbah, Alhaji Abba Sa’id Sufi.

He said the 100 sex workers were subjected to tests and 43 were found to be HIV positive.

The Hisbah boss, who expressed concern over immoral activities in some areas of the state, said the Islamic organization has mapped out strategies to wipe out prostitution and other social vices in the ancient city.

“We feel concerned at the rate at which social vices such as drug abuse, armed robbery and prostitution are taking the centre-stage in the area.

“These women of easy virtue go naked on most occasions, seducing their patrons and spreading the deadly HIV disease. We have mapped out strategies for continued raid in that area and other black spots in the state.

“The desire of Hisbah is to ensure a decent and crime-free society where our youths would live a decent life and become useful and resourceful for their families and the society.

“Shariah encourages good deeds and abhors bad behaviour.

“The Hisbah Board has taken it upon itself to rebrand our society by discouraging all these vices and encouraging our youths to lead better lives that can give glory to the Almighty Allah,” Sufi said.

The Hisbah Director-General also reacted to a recent publication in a national daily urging the Federal Government to disband Hisbah and stop Kano State Government from funding it.

He described the statement credited to a chieftain of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Kano in this regard as “misplaced and unnecessary.”

In his words: “I believe that the Ohanaeze Chief is unaware of the fact that Hisbah is a non-political organization. Our duty is to maintain a decent society with high moral standard.

“I can recall that this issue of disbanding Hisbah came up some time ago and we won the case at the Appeal Court.

“So, I wish to plead with all concerned to understand the fundamental reason for establishing the Hisbah Board.

“To an extent, I understand that the Hisbah of the immediate past administration might have gotten things wrong, let me reiterate that this Hisbah under the government of Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso remains focused to the fundamental principles of Islam.

“The Hisbah Board is in no way coming against non-indigenes or non-Muslims, rather we tend to protect them. If you can recall, in January this year, during the fuel-subsidy problem, Hisbah guards were dispatched to churches.

“We protected Christian worshippers during service, we protected the Sabon Gari business environment; and people were happy.

“Christian worshippers were so impressed that they were giving out presents to the Hisbah men.

“So, I must tell you that we now have a reformed Hisbah devoid of violence and controversy,” Sufi noted.

He also hinted that plans were on to commence the second phase of the Kano mass wedding involving another 100 divorcees and widows.