Amnesty International has condemned the arrest of 25 people by the Kano State Hisbah Board during a gathering in Hotoro on Friday, October 25, 2025, describing the action as a violation of human rights.
According to the group, the arrests—based solely on the suspects’ appearance and alleged sexual orientation—reflect a worrying pattern of abuse and discrimination under the guise of morality enforcement.
Hisbah officials reportedly apprehended 18 men and 7 women accused of attending a “gay celebration” and attempting to conduct a “same-sex marriage.”
In a statement, Amnesty International urged the Kano State Hisbah Board to end what it described as “unlawful raids and the misuse of moral laws to intimidate, harass, and detain people based on perceived sexual identity.”
The organization further called on Nigerian authorities to ensure that all citizens, regardless of orientation or belief, are treated with dignity and protected under the law.
