Kano Governor Orders Crackdown on Groups Promoting LGBT Rights
Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has declared a zero-tolerance policy towards any groups suspected of promoting and advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights within the state.
The governor’s directive follows rising tensions and public concerns over alleged activities related to same-sex marriage advocacy in Kano.
Speaking to newsmen on Sunday, the state Commissioner for Information, Baba Dantiye, conveyed the governor’s firm stance against any agreements or activities perceived to support LGBT rights, emphasizing that such actions are contrary to the cultural and moral values of Kano’s predominantly Muslim population.
“The state government will not accept any agreement that promotes the activities of gays and lesbians, as it contravenes the norms and values of the people of Kano and breaches the state’s moral standards,” Dantiye stated.
Governor Yusuf has tasked the Hisbah Board, an Islamic religious enforcement agency, with investigating and taking action against groups found promoting LGBT rights.
“I spoke with the governor, and he expressed his disapproval of the said agreement, even though it has not yet been confirmed. He assured me that there is no room for LGBT activities in Kano,” Dantiye reported.
He further highlighted that 98% of Kano’s population are Muslims, whose religious beliefs strongly oppose homosexuality, reinforcing the government’s stance against LGBT activities.
In response to allegations of groups promoting LGBT rights in the state, Dantiye noted that the government has been receiving numerous complaints from concerned citizens. Consequently, Governor Yusuf has ordered the Hisbah Board to thoroughly investigate these claims and take appropriate legal action against such groups.
Dantiye also mentioned ongoing consultations with religious leaders to devise strategies to curb these activities, reaffirming the governor’s commitment to upholding the moral standards of Kano.
“We will take legal action as appropriate,” Dantiye concluded, stressing the government’s readiness to enforce measures against any entities found violating the state’s stance on LGBT rights.
