Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has approved the establishment of a Special Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as part of efforts to address the growing problem of substance abuse and drug-related crimes in Kano State.
The development was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the governor’s spokesman, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.
The governor appointed Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, the immediate past Executive Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, as chairman of the task force.
The committee comprises representatives from key security agencies and institutions, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Kano State Hisbah Board, the Kano Emirate Council, and the Council of Ulama.
Other members include health professionals, academics, government officials, and civil society representatives.
According to the statement, the task force was established to provide a coordinated multi-agency approach aimed at disrupting illegal drug networks, speeding up the prosecution of offenders, and reducing drug abuse through advocacy and public enlightenment campaigns.
The committee is expected to strengthen intelligence gathering and information sharing among security agencies, identify and dismantle drug trafficking networks, and encourage community participation through confidential reporting channels.
It will also identify major drug distribution centres across the state, facilitate targeted raids and arrests, and recommend measures for the seizure of assets linked to drug trafficking activities.
In addition, the task force has been mandated to improve the prosecution of drug-related cases by enhancing evidence gathering, standardizing forensic procedures, and collaborating with the judiciary to establish fast-track courts for drug offences.
On the advocacy front, the committee will conduct public awareness campaigns targeting students, youths, and vulnerable groups, while also working with religious and traditional institutions to promote rehabilitation and support services for individuals affected by substance abuse.
Governor Yusuf described drug abuse as one of the greatest threats facing the future of young people and reiterated his administration’s commitment to tackling the challenge through enforcement, prevention, and community participation.
He urged members of the task force to carry out their responsibilities with commitment, professionalism, and patriotism in order to protect the future of Kano State.
The task force is expected to begin work immediately in the state’s fight against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
