By Mustapha Salisu
The Kano State Multi-Agency Taskforce Committee on Drug Abuse has recorded more than 400 arrests less than two months after its inauguration, its Chairman, Barr. Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, has said.
Magaji disclosed this on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, while speaking at the Kano Network of NGOs (KANET) September Monthly Lecture Series held at the AHBN Building, Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa GRA, Kano.
The lecture, themed “Kano Drugs Crisis: Challenges, the Way Forward and the Role of the Community,” focused on the drug abuse situation in the state and the role of communities and other stakeholders in addressing the problem.
Magaji said drug abuse was linked to several challenges confronting Kano, stressing that urgent action was needed to prevent the situation from worsening.
He described drug abuse as an organised crime and expressed concern over the circulation of drugs originally intended for controlled medical use on the streets.
According to him, combating drug abuse should not be left to government alone, as citizens also have a role to play in tackling the menace.
He called on women, religious institutions and community leaders to remain vigilant and strengthen efforts to address drug abuse from the family level.
Magaji also advocated the empowerment of local vigilante groups to support efforts against drug trafficking and abuse, while calling for measures to disrupt the supply of illicit drugs into the state.
Magaji disclosed that the task force would soon introduce a 24-hour toll line for residents to report drug-related incidents, with personnel expected to respond to distress calls within 30 minutes.
The chairman further called for increased rehabilitation programmes to reduce the number of people in remand homes and support the reintegration of affected persons into society.
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Speaking earlier, KANET Chairman, Barr. Nura Ahmad Muhammad, welcomed participants to the lecture, saying the session was designed to examine the approach of the state task force and strengthen community action against drug abuse.
He thanked representatives of civil society organisations and development partners for attending the programme.
Also speaking, Executive Director of LESPADA, Ambassador Maryam Hassan, commended the task force for its efforts, saying residents had begun noticing positive changes in relation to security concerns associated with drug abuse and criminal activities.
Hassan stressed the importance of prevention, urging communities not to shield children involved in drug abuse or trafficking.
She said sensitisation and awareness campaigns would be necessary to strengthen preventive measures and encourage communities to take action before young people become involved in drug abuse.
Similarly, Mallam Sulaiman Jalo of AMG Foundation described the fight against drug abuse as a collective responsibility, while commending the task force under Magaji for what he described as notable progress.
