Hisbah to Arrest Shatu Garko’s Parent for winning Miss Nigeria pageant

The Kano State Hisbah Corps has threatened to arrest and interrogate the parents of Shatu Garko, the winner of the 2021 Miss Nigeria Beauty Pageant,  for allowing their daughter to participate in the contest.

The intention of the corps was revealed by the Kano State Hisbah commander Haruna Ibn Sina who described the contest as “illegal” and contrary to Islamic beliefs in an interview with BBC Pidgin.

Ms  Shati Garko who recently emerged as the 44th Miss Nigeria became the first hijab adorning Muslim to win the beauty pageant.

Mr Haruna said participating in a pageant is “forbidden” for Muslims from Kano, a northern Nigerian state with strict Sharia practices.

Mr Ibn Sina said they had confirmed that Ms Garko’s parents are living in Kano and will soon be brought into custody and interrogated for the role their daughter played in the beauty contest.

Though Miss Garko participated in the pageant adorning her hijab, the Hisbah commander further condemned the exercise as a whole, saying it was against Quranic instruction.

Garko,  Despite being the youngest contestant, Shatu Garko beat 17 others to become the first hijab-wearing model to wear the Miss Nigeria crown.

Nicole Ikot was the first runner up while Kasarachi Okoro emerged as the second runner up for the beauty contest.

According to the organisers of the beauty pageant, Garko will go home with a cash prize of N10 million Naira, A 1-year residency for one luxury apartment, a brand new car, and several brand ambassadorship opportunities.