No fewer than five youths, including a groom and his bride, have been apprehended by operatives of the Kano State Hisbah Board for conducting an illegal marriage ceremony without parental consent.
The arrest followed reports that the couple, along with three other individuals who acted as witnesses to the union, were conducting the ceremony outside the proper Islamic and legal framework.
Confirming the arrests in a statement on Monday, the Deputy Commander General of the Hisbah Board, Mujahideen Aminuddeen, said the act violated both Islamic marital procedures and state regulations.
“Marriage in Islam is a sacred institution governed by clear principles. Conducting a marriage without the consent of parents or guardians is unacceptable and invalid in the eyes of the law,” Aminuddeen stated.
He further revealed that the couple had exchanged a dowry of just N10,000, an amount below the minimum threshold recognized under Islamic legal standards.
According to him, the board has launched a full investigation to determine the motives behind the act and the role of each participant.
He urged parents to take greater responsibility in guiding their children on matters of marriage and social conduct.
“We appeal to parents to monitor their wards closely. Hisbah will not relent in upholding moral standards and protecting the sanctity of marriage,” he added.
This development comes as the Kano State Government directs Hisbah to prepare for a mass wedding involving no fewer than 2,000 couples under its state-sponsored programme.
