The Kano State Hisbah Board has arrested a man accused of arranging an unauthorised marriage with a young woman who reportedly fled Kebbi State to escape a wedding planned by her father.
The suspect, identified as Sunusi Sabi’u Zakariyya, operates an Islamic medicine shop in Kano.
The woman, identified as Zainab, reportedly left Birnin Kebbi after learning that her father intended to force her into marriage.
Hisbah Commander for Kano Municipal Local Government Area, Malam Hamidan Tanko Alasaka, disclosed the arrest while explaining the board’s findings into the incident.
During questioning, Zainab told investigators that she met Sunusi through a telephone conversation after leaving Kebbi State.
However, Sunusi claimed that she had been living at his elder sister’s house for about two months and that her parents had made no effort to locate her.
The suspect, who is already married, reportedly said he contacted some people through a friend, who arranged for them to serve as guardians during the marriage ceremony.
He said the marriage was conducted with a dowry of N70,000. Residents reportedly alerted the Hisbah Board after the marriage was allegedly conducted inside a shop.
Alasaka said the board had arrested those involved and was investigating the matter.
He added that the suspects would be transferred to the board’s headquarters for further action.