Kano Censorship Board Arrests Four Over “Immoral” TikTok Content

In a bold move to curb the spread of what it calls "offensive and immoral content" on social media, the Kano State Censorship Board has arrested four individuals for allegedly violating the state’s decency laws through posts on TikTok.

The accused Usman Ibrahim (Maikalar Kudi), Sumayya Muhammad (Summy Beby), Usman Majidadi (Majidadi), and Hafsa Hamisu (Zoom Zoom) were taken into custody for publishing content deemed harmful to social values and public morality.

According to Alhaji Abba El-Mustapha, Executive Chairman of the Censorship Board, the arrests are part of a wider crackdown on digital content that "disparages societal values, especially among young people."

“We are committed to increasing the levels of decency and discipline across social media platforms,” he stated.

During the court proceedings, Barrister Garzali Maigari Bichi, prosecuting for the state, read out the charges. All four defendants reportedly pleaded guilty to violating Kano’s censorship regulations.

While the exact details of their content were not disclosed publicly, the Board emphasized that it violated local decency statutes and constituted a threat to cultural and moral norms.

The Board's aggressive stance has sparked debate among digital rights advocates. While officials insist they are preserving public morality, critics argue this may border on infringement of creative expression and freedom of speech, especially among younger, digitally active populations.

Nonetheless, Alhaji Abba reiterated that the board would not tolerate degradation of societal values online, saying the arrests are a warning to others who may seek to flout Kano’s moral codes.