Kano, Nigeria — The Kano State Hisbah Board has arrested a 24-year-old man, Shamsu Yakubu, for allegedly engaging in an obscene act with a she-goat, an incident that has sparked outrage both online and within his local community.
The suspect, a resident of Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area, was apprehended on Tuesday after a disturbing video surfaced on TikTok, showing him appearing to lick the genitalia of the animal. In the footage, Shamsu is heard instructing another individual—off-camera—to record the act, which he later admitted was staged in an attempt to gain social media attention.
The viral video triggered widespread condemnation from members of the public, with many expressing shock and disbelief. Some residents of his community reportedly threatened to take matters into their own hands before a local leader intervened and reported the matter to the Hisbah Board, the Islamic moral enforcement agency in the state.
During preliminary interrogation, Shamsu denied actually licking the animal, claiming he only mimicked the act by positioning his mouth close to the goat’s genitalia. He also insisted this was the first time he had engaged in such behavior and pledged never to repeat it. The suspect further denied being under the influence of any intoxicating substance at the time.
Despite his denial, the Hisbah Board has ordered psychiatric and drug tests to determine his mental and physical condition.
Deputy Commander-General of the Hisbah Board, Sheikh Mujahideen Aminuddeen Abubakar, condemned the act in strong terms, describing it as disgraceful and fundamentally opposed to Islamic teachings and moral values.
“It is tragic that a Muslim man would subject himself to such a shameful act, disregarding all religious and ethical principles,” Sheikh Abubakar stated. “His pursuit of cheap social media fame has led to public disgrace.”
The Hisbah Board reaffirmed its commitment to preserving the moral and religious standards of Kano State, warning that similar indecent behavior—particularly those shared publicly for attention—would not be tolerated.
Investigations are ongoing, and appropriate disciplinary measures are expected to follow based on the outcomes of the assessments.
