TWO men have been sentenced to a cumulative nine-year jail term each for supplying rubber solution and other intoxicating substances to vulnerable children in Kano State.
News Point Nigeria reports that the convicts, Kabiru Isa, also known as Mada, and Usman Hamisu, also known as Mani, were sentenced by Magistrate Muhammad Alhaji Sani of Magistrate Court Number 44, Gwammaja, Kano, after they were found guilty of criminal conspiracy, membership of an unlawful society and administering intoxicating substances.
According to a statement by the Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, signed by Lamara Garba, a member of the Media and Publicity Committee, the offences were contrary to Sections 97, 97A and 249 of the Penal Code.
According to the Task Force, the court imposed a cumulative nine-year prison term on each of the convicts without an option of fine, with the sentences to run consecutively. The court also ordered that each year of the sentence be served as a full 12 calendar months.
The conviction followed an investigation by the Task Force into the alleged exposure of vulnerable children to intoxicating substances in the Race Course area of Kano.
The Task Force said the case came to light after 43 children, most of them underage, were rescued from the area.
It said investigations revealed that some children involved in street-based scavenging were allegedly supplied with rubber solution and other harmful substances instead of receiving proper payment for their services.
The development, according to the Task Force, exposed the children to substance abuse and further increased their vulnerability.
The Chairman of the Task Force, Muhuyi Magaji, said the conviction demonstrates the agency’s resolve to take action against individuals involved in the exploitation of children and the supply of intoxicating substances.
He said enforcement would remain a key part of the Task Force’s mandate, stressing that anyone found supplying intoxicants to children or encouraging drug abuse would be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Beyond prosecution, the Task Force says it is pursuing a broader plan to remove 10,000 vulnerable youths from the streets, particularly those exposed to substance abuse and other harmful influences. The initiative is part of the state’s wider rehabilitation and reintegration strategy.
Under the initiative, rescued youths are expected to undergo medical and psychosocial assessments, with those requiring treatment receiving appropriate interventions.
Others will be supported through rehabilitation, skills acquisition and reintegration into their communities.
The Task Force says the aim is not only to remove vulnerable young people from the streets but also to provide them with opportunities to recover, acquire useful skills and become productive members of society.
Magaji called for greater cooperation among parents, community leaders, traditional institutions and other stakeholders in protecting children and young people from substance abuse.
He said the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking requires a collective effort involving government agencies, families and communities.
The Task Force urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report activities involving the exploitation of children or the distribution of intoxicating substances to vulnerable young people.
The conviction comes amid intensified enforcement by the Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force, which has also been pursuing a broader campaign against drug abuse, illicit trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable youths across the state.