THE Chairman of the Kano State Multi Agency Task Force on Drugs Abuse and Trafficking, Alhaji Muhyi Magaji Rimin Gado, has declared that there will be no sacred cows in the ongoing war against drug abuse and trafficking in the state, warning that anyone involved in the illicit trade will face the full wrath of the law.
News Point Nigeria reports that Alhaji Muhyi made the declaration while speaking during a phone-in programme, Duniyar Mu a Yau, aired on Freedom Radio, Kano, where he also disclosed a series of enforcement, rehabilitation and preventive measures already being undertaken by the Task Force to tackle the menace.
The statement was signed by Lamara Garba, mnipr, Member, Media & Publicity Committee, Multi Agency Task Force on Drugs Abuse and Trafficking (MATFDAT).
Alhaji Muhyi disclosed that the Task Force had already taken a number of drug-related patients to the Kiru Reformative Centre as part of its efforts to rehabilitate victims of substance abuse and restore them to productive lives.
He also revealed that several suspects had been charged to court for alleged drug-related offences, while a number of drug stores had been sealed for violating regulations governing the sale, handling and storage of drugs.
According to him, the Task Force would not spare individuals or businesses found contravening established procedures, stressing that enforcement would be carried out without fear or favour.
He warned drug peddlers across the state to immediately abandon the illicit business or face arrest and prosecution.
“There will be no sacred cow. Anyone who engages in the selling or abuse of drugs will certainly be apprehended and prosecuted. There will be no hiding place for such criminals in Kano State,” he said.
The Chairman said the Task Force would broaden its engagement with critical segments of society, including religious scholars, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, market associations and other stakeholders, as part of a comprehensive strategy to confront the menace.
He explained that the fight against drug abuse could not be left to government and security agencies alone, stressing that the collective strength of communities and institutions was required to achieve a sustainable solution.
Alhaji Muhyi assured the government and people of Kano State of his personal commitment to the assignment, declaring that he was prepared to make significant personal sacrifices to ensure that the state was rid of the menace of drug abuse and trafficking.
“We are committed to sacrificing everything for this assignment. I would rather die than compromise on this fight,” he declared.
He described drug abuse as an increasingly endemic problem that had assumed a dimension beyond what many people had imagined, stressing that no effort should be spared in confronting it.
The Chairman commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for establishing the Multi Agency Task Force, saying the initiative demonstrated the administration’s determination to address one of the major threats to the future of the state’s young population.
He assured the Governor and the people of Kano that the Task Force would justify the confidence reposed in it, adding that its members remained determined to pursue the assignment with courage and integrity.
Alhaji Muhyi further disclosed that, as part of efforts to cleanse the public service of activities associated with drug abuse and trafficking, he personally visited the State Secretariat at the Audu Bako Secretariat, where arrests were made in the course of the Task Force’s operations.
He said the action was necessary to ensure that government offices were not used as a safe haven for activities capable of undermining the fight against drug abuse.
The Chairman called on residents of Kano State to support the Task Force and provide relevant information to security and enforcement agencies, stressing that the responsibility of securing society belonged to everyone.
“It is a collective responsibility. We must all join hands to secure our society and protect our young people from the devastating consequences of drug abuse,” he said.
In another development, Alhaji Muhyi disclosed that the Task Force was working on plans to rehabilitate and revive skills acquisition centres across the state, including the Dangote Skills Acquisition Centre, to provide meaningful opportunities for young people.
He said the initiative was designed to equip youths with vocational skills and create productive alternatives that could help prevent them from falling into drug abuse, trafficking and other forms of criminality.
According to him, empowering young people with skills and opportunities remained an important component of the broader campaign against substance abuse.
He said the Task Force would continue to combine enforcement with rehabilitation, public enlightenment, youth empowerment and stakeholder engagement in its determination to make Kano State increasingly free from drug abuse and trafficking.
Alhaji Muhyi urged residents, parents, community leaders and all stakeholders to support the campaign, stressing that the success of the fight would ultimately depend on collective vigilance and sustained commitment.