Salisu Baso
The Bauchi State government has successfully rehabilitated 575 commercial sex workers who have repented and transitioned into various roles in society, including marriage or returning to their families, according to an official.
Barrister Aminu Bala, the Permanent Commissioner of the Bauchi Shariah Commission under the state Ministry of Religious Affairs, disclosed this during a fact-finding mission at the Kano House of Assembly. The visit aimed to explore the possibility of converting Bauchi’s Hisbah unit into a full-fledged board, similar to that of Kano.
Bala explained that the former sex workers received vocational training in various trades, including hairdressing, tailoring, weaving, soap making, and goat rearing.
The women, having completed their training, were provided with necessary equipment to help them establish sustainable businesses.
“To address the issue of prostitution in Bauchi, we have trained these women in various skills and supported them with working materials to enable them to start their businesses,” Bala said. He also added that some of the women were reintegrated into their families, while others were married under the supervision of the Shariah Commission.
In addition to the rehabilitation program, Bala revealed that the Bauchi Hisbah destroyed 14 million bottles of alcohol that had been seized in the state as part of their enforcement of Islamic law.
Bala highlighted challenges facing the Hisbah Command, particularly the interference of some Islamic scholars who, according to him, make uninformed public statements about the Shariah program. He urged these scholars to thoroughly investigate issues, such as allegations regarding same-sex marriage, before making public pronouncements.
The move is part of Bauchi’s broader efforts to curb vices and promote social and religious reforms under Islamic law in the state.
