By Awwal Umar Kontagora Mokwa, Niger State – In a sweeping crackdown on illegal alcohol and vice operations, officials of the Ni...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
Mokwa, Niger State – In a sweeping crackdown on illegal alcohol and vice operations, officials of the Niger State Liquor and Licensing Board have sealed 13 beer parlours and a brothel across Mokwa, Edati, and Lavun Local Government Areas.
The operation, led by the Executive Director of Operations, Mohammed Hamisu, targeted vendors operating outside the confines of the law. According to Hamisu, the violations ranged from selling alcohol in prohibited zones, failure to pay the required licensing fees, to deliberate underpayment of operational dues.
"We identified three major areas of default — operating in prohibited areas, non-payment of the prescribed operational fees, and underpayment," Hamisu stated. “Those found guilty of operating illegally were either compelled to comply with licensing rules or had their premises shut down in accordance with the law.”
The Executive Director warned the affected operators against reopening their businesses without clearance, stating that defiance would result in "severe penalties as stipulated in the state’s liquor licensing laws."
In a particularly shocking discovery in Mokwa, officials uncovered a 50-room apartment near a central mosque allegedly used as a brothel. The building, reportedly owned by one Hon. Bitagi, had been the subject of numerous community complaints submitted to local traditional authorities.
Hamisu disclosed that the Board is seeking an audience with the owner, recommending the building be repurposed into an Islamic institution, converted into a more decent business facility, or sold entirely.
He further appealed to landlords and property owners across the state to “refrain from leasing their buildings to beer sellers or prostitutes,” warning that such actions could lead to outright property forfeiture under the state’s laws.
Hamisu commended the collaborative efforts of the Hisbah corps, security agencies, and community leaders in facilitating the operation. He also advised prospective beer vendors to “reach out to the appropriate licensing authorities before engaging in such trades to avoid legal embarrassment.”
The Board reaffirmed its commitment to upholding public morality and ensuring that business operations within Niger State remain within the legal framework.
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