Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has inaugurated a Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and signed an Executive Order to combat thuggery and related criminal activities across the state.
The governor said drug abuse remains one of the greatest threats to Kano’s youth, linking it to violent crime, family breakdown, economic decline and social instability.
Speaking at the inauguration on Wednesday, July 22, Yusuf said the task force would coordinate intelligence gathering, law enforcement, public awareness campaigns, rehabilitation programmes and collaboration with security agencies and other stakeholders to tackle the menace.
He pledged adequate funding, operational vehicles, office accommodation, logistics and security support for the committee while assuring it of operational independence to carry out its mandate effectively.
The governor also reiterated his administration’s commitment to expanding rehabilitation services, noting that separate rehabilitation centres for male and female victims of drug abuse had already been established and would be further strengthened.
Yusuf said the Executive Order against thuggery would provide a stronger legal framework for dismantling criminal gangs, curbing political violence and complementing the efforts of security agencies in maintaining law and order.
Chairman of the task force, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, thanked the governor for the confidence reposed in the committee and pledged to discharge its responsibilities with integrity and professionalism.
He said the task force would work closely with security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, educational institutions and community leaders to combat drug abuse and promote lasting peace.
The governor urged residents to support the initiative by providing credible information to security agencies, stressing that the fight against drug abuse and thuggery requires collective action.
According to a statement by the Director General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Kano, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the governor expressed confidence that the combined implementation of the Executive Order and the work of the task force would significantly reduce drug-related crimes and enhance public safety across Kano State.
