The Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has directed the state Hisbah Board to crack down on groups suspected to be promoting and advocating for LGBTQ rights in Kano.

The directive was coming amid rising tension over the activities of groups allegedly promoting same-sex marriage in the state.

The Commissioner for Information, Baba Dantiye, disclosed this in a telephone interview with The PUNCH on Monday.

According to the commissioner, the activities of the group, codenamed “WISE” or “Women Initiative for Sustainable Empowerment and Equality” were a complete breach of the state’s moral standards and a violation of the Shari’ah.

The commissioner said the state government would not accept any agreement promoting the activities of gays and lesbians, as it contravened the norms and values of the people of Kano.

“I spoke with the governor, and he expressed his disapproval of the said agreement, though it has not yet been confirmed. He assured me that there is no room for LGBT activities in Kano,” Dantiye said.

“As you know, 98 per cent of people in Kano are Muslims by faith, and our religion is against this immorality, so we can’t accept it,” he added.

The commissioner said the government had received citizens’ concerns over groups promoting LGBT activities in the state and the governor had ordered the Hisbah to investigate and take action against these groups.

“We also discussed this with the governor, and he directed Hisbah to investigate and crack down on them. We will take legal action as appropriate,” he said.

Dantiye also disclosed that consultations were ongoing with religious leaders on how to curb such activities in the state.

WISE, an NGO which allegedly advocates for lesbian, bisexual, and queer rights, is a successor organisation to Women Action for Gender Equality. (The PUNCH)