KANO, NIGERIA — In a major policy shift aimed at eradicating narcotics trafficking and substance abuse, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has approved the immediate constitution of a powerful multi-agency Special Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
According to a press statement released on Thursday, June 25, 2026, by the Governor’s Spokesperson and Director-General of Media and Publicity, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the newly established enforcement body is tasked with aggressively dismantling illicit distribution networks and treating drug abuse as a critical state security concern.
To head the high-stakes operation, Governor Yusuf has appointed Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, the immediate past Executive Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), as Chairman of the Task Force.
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A coordinated, heavyweight membership lineup
The newly formed task force brings together top officials from federal law enforcement agencies, state institutions, health organizations, and traditional institutions under a unified command structure.
The strategic 20-member committee features an extensive roster of influential figures, including:
- Dr. Ibrahim Garba Muhammad (Executive Secretary, Consumer Protection Council) – Serving as Secretary.
- Aliyu Muhammad Sani (Director of Research and Evaluation, REPA) – Serving as Co-Secretary.
- Hon. A.A. Zaura (Member).
- The State Commander of Narcotics, NDLEA (Member).
- The Coordinator of the Kiru Reformative Centre (Member).
- Hon. Sani Isa Romi (Senior Special Assistant on Pharmaceuticals) (Member).
- Academic and Civil Society Experts: Maryam Muhammad (Northwest University), Ambassador Maryam Hassan (LESPADA), Ambassador Yunusa Yusuf Hamza, and retired senior operative DCI Abba Badamasi.
- Institutional and Security Representatives: Formal delegates drawn from the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), the Ministry of Health, the Kano State Hisbah Board, the Kano Emirate Council, and the Council of Ulama.
Aggressive mandate: Fast-track courts and asset seizure
According to the official terms of reference, the task force will move away from passive policing toward a proactive, intelligence-led offensive. The unit is authorized to identify and launch targeted raids on major drug distribution hotspots across Kano State, carry out high-profile arrests, and recommend the immediate seizure and forfeiture of assets linked to drug trafficking syndicates.
To ensure arrested suspects face swift legal consequences, the task force is mandated to work closely with the state judiciary. Its operational framework includes standardizing forensic evidence collection, improving laboratory procedures, and facilitating the establishment of specialized fast-track courts dedicated exclusively to handling drug-related offences without unnecessary delays.
On the preventive front, the committee will spearhead community-based campaigns, partnering with traditional and religious institutions to design rehabilitation programmes, establish anonymous whistleblowing channels, and protect vulnerable groups, particularly youths and students, from the dangers of addiction.
“Substance abuse represents one of the greatest threats facing the socio-economic future of our young people. My administration is fully prepared to deploy all available state resources to confront this menace head-on through uncompromising law enforcement, preventive education, and robust community participation,” Governor Yusuf emphasized.
Charging the committee members to carry out their responsibilities with patriotism, professional integrity, and unwavering commitment, the governor added that the task force should commence operations immediately, warning drug cartels operating within the state that their activities would no longer be tolerated in Kano.
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