Hisbah bans girls’ night hawking in Katsina

The Katsina State Hisbah Board has issued a ban on girls hawking after 10pm across the state, according to a press briefing on Tuesday. Commandant General Saifullahi Musa emphasized the directive's intent to protect children from potential harm such as harassment, robbery, and disrupted education. Research has linked child hawking in Nigeria to household economic pressures.

The Katsina Hisbah Board, established in 2023 under Governor Dikko Radda, aims to promote Islamic values and address social concerns. The ban applies to hawking in motor parks, markets, and other public places. Musa reported receiving complaints about girls facing sexual abuse and engaging in illicit activities, which are against Islamic teachings.

The Hisbah will deploy personnel to enforce the restriction and caution parents against allowing their children, especially girls, to hawk late at night. Additionally, the board plans to regulate traditional medicine dealers and address brothels reopening in the state.