By MUHAMMAD NUR TIJANI

The Chairman, Kano State Inter-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Muhuyi Rimin-Gado, has warned politicians against mounting pressure on the committee to secure the release of suspected thugs or drug offenders arrested during its operations.

Rimin-Gado gave the warning on Tuesday during a strategic meeting with journalists in Kano, saying the task force would carry out its mandate without fear or favour.

He insisted that no individual, regardless of political status, would influence the operations of the committee.

“No politician should approach me to release any thug if we arrest him. This is Kano, and we are all indigenes of the state. We will not allow a few people to destroy its future.

“The only person who can ask me to release anybody is the Governor. If he does so, it simply means he is indirectly asking me to resign,” he said.

Rimin-Gado said the task force was created following the governor’s declaration of a statewide public health emergency on substance abuse on July 22.

According to him, the committee has been mandated to clamp down on illicit drug traffickers, curb substance abuse, rehabilitate victims and prosecute offenders.

“Our major target is the drug traffickers because they are the main enemies of society. We are also committed to creating mechanisms for rehabilitation and community engagement,” he said.

The chairman said statistics from the Kano State Police Command showed that about 70 per cent of major crimes recorded in the state in 2025 were linked to drug abuse.

“If not for drug abuse, thousands of crimes would not have occurred. That is why the government is deeply concerned and established this multi-agency task force to confront the menace,” he added.

Rimin-Gado said the committee would also focus on dismantling violent gangs operating across the state, noting that the executive order signed by the governor had outlawed such groups under Section 97A of the Kano State Penal Code.

He explained that membership of any group declared unlawful under the law attracts a minimum prison sentence of five years upon conviction.

He said the committee would rely on intelligence gathering, collaboration with security agencies and community participation to combat drug-related crimes and restore public safety.

The chairman appealed to parents to pay closer attention to their children’s activities, saying parental supervision remained critical to preventing substance abuse and youth involvement in crime.

“We must not parent only in name. Parents have a responsibility to monitor their children and guide them towards becoming responsible leaders of tomorrow,” he said.

Rimin-Gado also called on media organisations and other stakeholders to support the committee through sustained public enlightenment campaigns on the dangers of drug abuse and the need for collective action against illicit drug trafficking.

“This fight is not for the committee alone. It requires the support of the media, community leaders, parents and every resident of Kano. Together, we can protect the future of our state,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee, inaugurated by Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf, comprises representatives of security agencies across the state and was established to tackle drug abuse, illicit drug trafficking and gang-related violence. (NAN)

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