Kano Hisbah official arrested for allegedly criticising arrest of LGBTQ members

An official of the Kano State Hisbah Board, Idris Ahmed Gama, has been arrested for condemning the arrest of some members of a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer organisation.

The Commander General of the Board, Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Kano on Monday, July 9, 2024, said the state government has already banned any group or association that promotes LGBTQ.

According to him, the agency has clamped down on many groups promoting LGBTQ in the state under the guise of empowerment. 

The Commander-General urged the public, religious and traditional leaders, media, and all relevant stakeholders to join the fight against immorality in the state.

However, the arrested staff, Gama, a medical officer with the board, explained that he was invited to a workshop via WhatsApp on women’s empowerment where a paper was presented on human rights. 

He denied being a member of any group or association advocating LGBTQ rights, and that he was only invited to a workshop by a group named Women Initiative for Sustainable Empowerment and Equality (WISE).

“I was personally invited and after the program, I was interviewed on how the police arrested LGBTQ members and I said it was a violation of human rights,” he said. 

He appealed for leniency and promised not to associate with WISE in the future.

In a video from the workshop sighted by LIB, the official said; 

“Getting closer and closer to the LGBTQ persons, I realize that they are people like me. They are humans like me. I feel like I ‘m dealing with my sisters and brothers. We are all human. We need equal treatment,” he partly said. 

Recall that the Kano State government through the commissioner for information, Baba Halilu Dantiye on Monday ordered a crackdown on all groups promoting LGBTQ in the state.

According to the commissioner, the activities of a group Women Initiative for Sustainable Empowerment and Equality (WISE) were a complete breach of the state’s moral standards and a violation of the Shari’ah. 

Formerly known as Women Action for Gender Equality; the name changed to Women Initiative for Sustainable Empowerment and Equality.