Kano Hisbah arrests man over ‘unauthorized marriage' with runaway girl

The Kano State Hisbah Board has arrested a young man identified as Sunusi Sabi'u Zakariyya, who operates an Islamic chemist over allegations of conducting an unauthorised marriage with a girl, Zainab, who reportedly fled Kebbi State to Kano.

The arrest was disclosed by the Hisbah Commander for Kano municipal Local Government Area, Malam Hamidan Tanko Alasaka, while giving an account of the board’s investigation into the incident.

Zainab told investigators that she fled Birnin Kebbi because her father was planning to force her into marriage.

She said she met Sunusi through a telephone conversation, while the suspect claimed that she had been staying at his elder sister’s house for two months without her parents making efforts to trace.

Sunusi, who was already married, said he contacted some people through a friend, who arranged for them to act as guardians before the marriage was conducted with a dowry of N70,000.

The Hisbah commander said residents reported the alleged illegal marriage, which was conducted in a shop.

He said the board has arrested those involved and is investigating the case before transferring them to its headquarters for further action.