The Sokoto State Hisbah Board has closed down a hotel in the state capital over allegations of housing underage girls on its premises.
The junta’s Deputy Commander-General, Professor Abubakar Usman Ribah, confirmed the development on Tuesday, stating that the action followed repeated violations by the hotel despite previous warnings.
Ribah said the hotel was found to have violated rules prohibiting the accommodation of minors, describing the act as contrary to the moral and legal standards upheld by the board.
According to him, the hotel had been previously warned and had also reached an agreement with the Hisbah Board and other hotel operators in the state not to allow underage children to stay on its premises.
“This is the second time such a crime has been recorded at the Executive Hotel, despite previous warnings and assurances from management that the practice would be desist,” Ribah said.
He explained that the decision to close the hotel was made due to non-compliance with the board’s directives and the conditions agreed upon during engagements with hoteliers across the state.
The deputy commanding general added that the junta would continue to enforce its regulations in accordance with the state’s religious and cultural values, and emphasized that such measures were necessary to maintain public order and morality.