The Chairman of the Kano State Special Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, has called on parents, media organisations and residents of the state to support the government’s renewed campaign against drug abuse, trafficking, “Daba” and other related crimes.
Muhuyi made the call during a media chat with journalists in Kano on Tuesday, where he outlined the mandate of the task force, the scale of the drug challenge in the state and the need for collective action to address the menace.
The chairman said the fight against drug abuse cannot be left to security agencies alone, stressing that parents, communities and the media have critical roles to play through awareness creation, early intervention and intelligence sharing.
He urged parents to take greater responsibility in monitoring the activities of their children, guiding them against negative influences and ensuring they do not fall into drug abuse and criminal activities.
Muhuyi also appealed to journalists and media organisations to intensify sensitization campaigns by educating the public on the dangers associated with drug abuse, illicit drug trafficking and other social vices affecting communities.
He said sustained public enlightenment was necessary to reduce drug demand, particularly among young people, while encouraging residents to provide useful information that could assist security agencies in identifying drug dealers, trafficking networks and criminal hideouts.
The Kano State Government established the Special Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking following the declaration of a state of emergency on drug abuse as a public health and security challenge.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf inaugurated the committee on July 22, 2026, with a mandate to provide a coordinated multi-agency framework aimed at disrupting illicit drug networks, accelerating prosecution of offenders and reducing drug demand through advocacy and public enlightenment.
The terms of reference of the task force include strengthening intelligence gathering and information sharing among security agencies, identifying and dismantling drug trafficking networks, establishing secure communication channels for intelligence operations and encouraging community participation through confidential reporting mechanisms.
The committee is also expected to identify major drug distribution points across the state, coordinate targeted raids and arrests, and recommend measures for the seizure of assets linked to drug trafficking activities.
Speaking on the level of drug-related crimes in Kano, Muhuyi disclosed that statistics released by the Kano State Police Command showed that in 2025, the command recorded 3,080 major crime arrests, with about 70 per cent of the cases linked to drug-related offences.
He said the figure demonstrated the connection between drug abuse and criminal activities, adding that tackling drug trafficking was essential to reducing crimes such as thuggery, violence and other social disturbances.
According to him, the task force would not focus only on drug users but would go after organised trafficking syndicates, their supporters, and collaborators who facilitate the illegal trade.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that drug trafficking syndicates and those supporting them are identified and dealt with in order to reduce drug-related crimes to the barest minimum,” he said.
Muhuyi explained that the government’s action was backed by legal provisions, citing Section 97(a) of the Kano State Penal Code Law, which he said empowers the government to prohibit activities considered unlawful and take measures in the interest of public safety.
He warned that anyone found acting in violation of lawful directives would face prosecution in accordance with the law.
The chairman also addressed concerns over possible political interference in the operations of the task force, saying no politician in Kano State would stop him from carrying out his assigned responsibilities except the Executive Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, who established the committee.
Muhuyi said the task force was created to perform a specific mandate and that he would remain committed to executing his duties professionally and without fear or favour.
He added that even if the governor attempted to interfere with the committee’s work, it would indirectly amount to asking him to resign because he would not compromise the responsibility assigned to him.
The chairman assured residents that the task force would operate within the law while collaborating with relevant agencies to confront drug abuse, trafficking and related criminal activities.
He emphasised that the success of the campaign depended on cooperation among government institutions, security agencies, parents, communities, religious leaders, traditional institutions and the media.
Muhuyi maintained that Kano State’s approach was not only focused on enforcement but also prevention, rehabilitation, advocacy and community participation, noting that a comprehensive response was needed to address the growing challenge of drug abuse.
He called on residents to support the government’s efforts, saying collective action remained the most effective way to protect young people and restore peace and security across the state.