A woman, Hajiya Hauwa’u Majida Muhammad, has cried out for justice after alleging that her daughter and two other young women were brutally assaulted by officers of the Hisbah Board in Katsina State. The incident, which reportedly took place on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at an event venue known as Scorpion Arena in Katsina metropolis, has sparked public outrage both online and offline.
According to Hajiya Hauwa’u, her daughter Asma’u and her two relatives, Hauwa’u and Zainab, were attending a colour-themed funfair to sell snacks when chaos broke out. Personnel of the Hisbah Board — the state’s morality enforcement bodystormed the event, accusing attendees of violating Shari’a moral codes, particularly regarding music and dressing.
Recounting the ordeal, Hajiya Hauwa’u said she was on the phone with her daughter when the disturbance began.
“She called me and said Hisbah officers were there disrupting the event. People were throwing stones at them, and they were throwing stones back. I told her to stay safe and wait for things to calm down,” she said.
However, after some time, her daughter called again, crying and saying she had been beaten along with two of her cousins. Asma’u, she explained, had been dragged into the Hisbah office, where she was allegedly whipped with koboko (a cane), verbally abused, and handed over to two female inmates who reportedly continued the assault.
“One of the officers called my daughter insulting names like ‘prostitute’ in Hausa,” she said. “When my daughter tried to defend herself, they slapped her, and one of the officers even threatened to cut her hair.”
The distraught mother further claimed that Hisbah officials told the girls that they were acting on the instructions of the state governor, Dikko Umar Radda.
“They were boasting that even if she was the governor’s daughter, they would still beat her. They said ‘Governor Radda told us to do this work,’” she stated angrily. “First, they said it was because of indecent dressing, then they said it was because she had contraband. But this girl went there to sell snacks, what contraband?”
The family has spent over ₦100,000 on medical treatment for the injuries sustained during the incident. They are now demanding a full investigation into the actions of the Hisbah officers.
In a brief interview, Asma’u confirmed the events narrated by her mother, saying her experience was traumatic and unjustified.
“My mother has said it all. I only want justice. I am not the only one they attacked, but mine was the worst,” she said.
In response to the allegations, the Katsina State Hisbah Board admitted to detaining Asma’u but denied knowledge of any physical abuse. Muhammad Sha’ibu, the Board’s Head of Operations, said Hisbah officials were at Scorpion Arena to confiscate DJ equipment, which is banned under state law.
“On getting there, hoodlums started throwing stones at my team. In the middle of this, Asma’u slapped one of our officers, so they dragged her into our office,” he explained. “All the talk about her being beaten mercilessly — we don’t know anything about that.”
Sha’ibu said if any injuries were sustained, they may have been due to the struggle during her arrest. He also denied the claim that the girls were beaten by inmates, calling the accusations false and unfair.
The incident has triggered a wave of condemnation across Katsina and beyond. The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Katsina chapter, issued a strong statement demanding justice and accountability.
“This kind of violence against women is unacceptable and should not be tolerated in any society,” said NAWOJ Chairperson Hajiya Hannatu Mohammed. “We urge the authorities to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice and that the victim receives the support and protection she needs.”
The association also called on the state government to take urgent action to prevent similar incidents in the future and promote a culture of respect for women’s rights.
In a separate statement, the Katsina State Ministry of Women Affairs, led by Commissioner Hadiza Abubakar Yar’adua, expressed deep concern over the reported brutality.
“As a ministry entrusted with protecting the rights and dignity of women, we categorically condemn all forms of violence against women, especially under the guise of morality enforcement,” the commissioner said.
“This is clearly a case of gender-based violence and must be treated with the seriousness it deserves. No woman deserves to be treated this way.”
She also confirmed that the ministry is investigating the incident and will release a detailed report after gathering all the facts.
The Hisbah Board in Katsina State operates under the Shari’a legal system, which is in place in several northern Nigerian states. Hisbah officers are tasked with enforcing Islamic moral codes, including restrictions on alcohol, public indecency, and playing of loud music at social gatherings.
While the Hisbah’s activities have received support in some quarters, there have also been growing concerns about overreach, abuse of power, and lack of due process. Critics say the agency often targets young women and uses excessive force in the name of morality enforcement.
In 2023, a similar outcry followed an incident in Kano where Hisbah officers were accused of destroying musical instruments and beating up event attendees, prompting human rights groups to call for reform of the agency.
Since news of the Katsina incident broke, social media platforms have been flooded with videos and messages calling for justice for Asma’u and her relatives. The hashtag #JusticeForAsma’u trended on X (formerly Twitter), with users condemning what many described as “state-sanctioned gender-based violence.”
Several rights activists have called on Governor Radda to publicly distance his administration from the actions of the Hisbah officers and ensure those responsible are disciplined.
As the investigation continues, many Nigerians are closely watching how the Katsina State government handles the situation. For Hajiya Hauwa’u and her daughter Asma’u, the hope is simple: accountability and justice.
“I just want them to admit what they did and be punished for it,” Hauwa’u said. “My daughter is not a criminal. She went to sell snacks, not to fight. No one deserves this kind of treatment.”
