“Hisbah Officers Must Obtain Court Orders Before Raiding Hotels, Homes” — Katsina Board Warns Defaulters Face Sanctions

The Katsina State Hisbah Board has directed its personnel to obtain valid court orders before conducting raids on hotels, private homes and other residential premises across the state.

The directive, contained in an internal circular issued by the Board, warned that any officer who enters or searches a hotel or private residence without the necessary judicial authorisation could face disciplinary and legal sanctions.

The Board said the instruction took immediate effect and must be strictly observed by all commanders, officers and operational units under its authority.

According to the directive, Hisbah personnel must follow established legal procedures when responding to reports of activities suspected to violate Sharia law or other regulations enforced by the Board.

Officers were consequently barred from relying solely on allegations, complaints or intelligence reports to forcefully enter private premises without first obtaining the appropriate court order.

The Board maintained that its responsibility to promote moral conduct and enforce relevant regulations must be discharged in accordance with the law, due process and the rights of residents.

It warned that unauthorised raids could expose the institution and individual officers to legal action while undermining public confidence in the Hisbah’s operations.

Under the new framework, personnel who receive complaints concerning activities inside hotels or private residences are expected to document the allegations and approach a competent court for the necessary authorisation before taking enforcement action.

The directive is also expected to apply to operations involving searches, arrests or the seizure of property from private premises.

The Board stressed that officers must not exceed the powers granted to them or take actions capable of violating the privacy, dignity and fundamental rights of citizens.

It added that commanders would be held responsible for ensuring compliance among personnel operating under their supervision.

The warning follows growing public debate over the conduct of Hisbah personnel during enforcement operations, particularly raids on hotels and private premises over allegations of immoral activities.

Some of the operations have generated concerns about forced entry, physical treatment of suspects and whether the personnel involved obtained the necessary legal authorisation before entering the affected properties.

The latest directive is aimed at ensuring that the Board’s activities are conducted within a clear legal framework and that allegations are handled through recognised judicial and administrative procedures.

The Board warned that any personnel found conducting unauthorised operations would be personally accountable for their actions and could face internal disciplinary proceedings.

Where an officer’s conduct amounts to a criminal offence or violation of another person’s rights, the matter could also be referred to the appropriate law-enforcement agency for investigation and possible prosecution.

The Katsina Hisbah Board reiterated its commitment to carrying out its mandate without disregarding the rule of law or the rights of residents.

It urged members of the public with complaints about suspected misconduct to submit them through the appropriate channels rather than encourage personnel to carry out unlawful or unauthorised raids.