Kano Rallies Communities Against Drug Abuse, Gang Violence
By Ahmad Tijjani Abdul
KANO — The Kano State Inter-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking has called on residents to support the government’s campaign against substance abuse and gang-related violence, saying community participation is critical to restoring public safety.
The chairman of the task force, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimin-Gado told newsmen on Tuesday that the committee, inaugurated by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, would intensify efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks, curb substance abuse, rehabilitate victims and prosecute offenders.
He said the task force would operate without fear or favour and would not succumb to political pressure aimed at securing the release of suspects arrested for drug-related offences or other crimes.
“No politician should approach me to release any thug if we arrest him. This is Kano, and we are all indigenes of the state. We will not allow a few people to destroy its future,” he said.
According to him, the committee was constituted after the governor declared a statewide public health emergency on substance abuse on July 22, with representatives of security agencies brought together to coordinate the state’s response to drug abuse, illicit trafficking and gang violence.
Mr Rimin-Gado described drug traffickers as “the main enemies of society,” saying the task force would prioritise dismantling trafficking networks while also strengthening rehabilitation programmes and community engagement initiatives.
He cited statistics from the Kano State Police Command indicating that about 70 per cent of major crimes recorded in the state in 2025 were linked to drug abuse, a trend he said justified the government’s renewed offensive against the menace.
The chairman also said the task force would enforce the executive order outlawing violent gangs in the state, noting that membership of any proscribed group attracts a minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment under Section 97A of the Kano State Penal Code.
Mr Rimin-Gado said the committee would rely on intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration and community support to combat drug-related crimes and dismantle criminal networks across the state.
He urged parents to pay closer attention to their children’s activities to prevent substance abuse and youth involvement in crime, while calling on the media, traditional leaders and civil society organisations to sustain public awareness campaigns.
“This fight is not for the committee alone. It requires the support of the media, community leaders, parents and every resident of Kano. Together, we can protect the future of our state,” he said.