The Kano State Police Command has arrested five suspects for allegedly administering and distributing unverified locally made medicine without authorization during a medical outreach in Kano.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the Command said the operation followed public complaints and concerns over the unauthorized activity, which had generated widespread attention on social media.
According to the statement, operatives of the 52 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Challawa, intercepted six men on August 4, 2026, at about 9:00 a.m. at the ECWA Church located behind the 52 PMF Base in Challawa.
The suspects, led by 50-year-old Simon Gbaaondo from Karu, Nasarawa State, were reportedly attached to the Brother Paul Legacy Foundation. They were allegedly administering and selling locally made medicine to a large number of residents from the Panshekara community without approval from relevant health regulatory agencies.
Police said the individual who hosted the outreach at the church premises has also been invited to assist investigators in determining the circumstances surrounding the exercise.
The case was initially reported at the Panshekara Police Division before being transferred to the Kano State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), where the five suspects are currently undergoing investigation.
The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, warned individuals and organizations against conducting medical outreaches or administering drugs and locally produced medicines without obtaining the necessary approvals from the Kano State Government, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and other relevant health authorities.
He said such unauthorized activities pose serious public health and security risks, particularly when they attract large crowds.
The police reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the safety and well-being of residents and urged members of the public to report any suspicious medical outreach or distribution of unverified medicines to the nearest police station.
The Command added that further updates on the investigation would be made available as the case progresses.
