Bauchi Shariah Fee empowers 570 former intercourse staff with start-up capital

In a bid to curb prostitution and uplift vulnerable women, the Bauchi State Shariah Commission has rehabilitated more than 570 commercial sex workers by equipping them with vocational skills and start-up capital to help them begin a new chapter in life.

The Permanent Commissioner of the Commission, Barr. Aminu Balarabe Isa, revealed this during an interview with journalists in his office.

He explained that the programme is part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to reintegrate what he referred to as “women of free virtues” into society by offering them sustainable means of earning a livelihood.

According to him, the beneficiaries—sourced from various parts of the state—underwent training in tailoring, hairdressing, makeup artistry, and other small-scale income-generating skills.

Isa noted that the Commission had initially considered arranging marriages for the women, but later realised that many of them had taken to prostitution due to poverty and the need to survive.

“Rather than imposing marriage on them, we chose to tackle the root cause—poverty—by equipping them with skills and resources to support themselves,” he said.

He described the initiative as a shift from punishment to rehabilitation in line with Islamic values, and noted that it has received commendation from various stakeholders who see it as a realistic and compassionate response to a long-standing social problem.