Amnesty International has called for an urgent investigation into what it described as a “lawless and callous” assault on a woma...
Amnesty International has called for an urgent investigation into what it described as a “lawless and callous” assault on a woman, Hauwa’u Lawal Suleiman, by operatives of the Hisbah corps in Katsina State. The incident reportedly occurred on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at the Hisbah office in Katsina.
According to a statement released by Amnesty International, Hauwa’u was brutally assaulted by approximately 20 Hisbah officers after she visited their office to inquire about the whereabouts of her relatives who had allegedly been detained. The organization said she sustained serious injuries, including a fracture, as a result of the beating.
Two of Hauwa’u’s sisters, who accompanied her and pleaded with the officers to stop the attack, were also reportedly subjected to severe beatings and degrading treatment.
“This incident is a gross violation of human rights and cannot be justified under any law or circumstance,” Amnesty International said in the statement. “The Katsina State Government must call Hisbah to order and issue clear directives for them to operate strictly within the bounds of the law.”
The international human rights organization further condemned what it described as a “pattern of ruthless violations” by the Katsina Hisbah, including arbitrary arrests, torture, and raids on youth gatherings, all allegedly carried out under the guise of curbing immorality.
“Using vague terms such as ‘immoral gatherings,’ Katsina Hisbah has carried out illegal raids with impunity, inflicting instant punishments not recognized by any Nigerian law,” the statement continued.
Amnesty International noted that its findings in Katsina revealed a disturbing trend where victims, many of whom are women, girls, and individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, are routinely denied justice.
The group also criticized the Hisbah operatives for lacking proper law enforcement training, accusing them of acting without knowledge of arrest procedures, suspects' rights, fair hearing principles, or evidence gathering protocols.
“Failure of the Katsina State Government to ensure accountability within the Hisbah structure is fostering a toxic climate of fear and lawlessness,” Amnesty said. “This impunity must end.”
The rights group demanded that all operatives involved in the assault on Hauwa’u and her sisters be identified, investigated, and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
As of press time, the Katsina State Government and Hisbah leadership are yet to respond to the allegations.
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