AFP, Gusau, Nigeria | Saturday
THE governor of a Nigerian state where strict Islamic law against prostitution and other vices has been introduced has distributed more than $400000 to prostitutes to discourage them from soliciting.
Northwestern Sokoto state governor Attahiru Bafarawa said the amount, distributed to more than 100 beneficiaries, was part of efforts to discourage prostitutes and so-called praise singers from their erstwhile practice.
The Islamic law, known as Sharia, bans prostitution, praise singing, gambling, robbery and drunkeness.
Handing out the money at a ceremony in Sokoto, the governor said it was to enable the beneficiaries to reform themselves and warned them to desist from their old practices as those found guilty will be dealt with in accordance with Islamic law.
Many members of the rival People’s Democratic Party, which controls the government at the federal level, said the gift was discriminatory as, according to them, only supporters of the governor’s party, the All People’s Party, benefited from it.
A similar gesture made by nearby Zamfara state last month recorded little success as beneficiaries fled the state to continue their practice elsewhere.
Zamfara in October last year became the first Nigerian state to declare Sharia despite opposition by the Nigerian Christian community.
Eight states in the north have so far introduced or adopted Islamic law: Zamfara, Niger, Sokoto, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Yobe and Borno states. Three other states – Bauchi, Gombe and Kebbi – are expected to announce their plans soon.
Nigerian Catholic bishops have slammed the adoption of Islamic law and called on the government to urgently address the problem.