According to a report by Punch on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, the Chairman of the Kano State Inter-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Muhuyi Rimin-Gado, has warned politicians against interfering with the activities of the committee by seeking the release of suspected thugs or drug offenders arrested during operations.
Speaking during a strategic meeting with media executives and journalists in Kano, Rimin-Gado said the task force would remain committed to its mandate and would not succumb to pressure from individuals seeking special treatment for people arrested for alleged offenses.
According to him, “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.”
Rimin-Gado explained that the task force, inaugurated by Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, was established to address drug abuse, illicit drug trafficking, and gang-related violence across the state. He added that the committee consists of representatives from various security agencies working together to tackle the challenges.
He said the task force was created after the governor declared a statewide public health emergency on substance abuse on July 22, with its responsibilities including the arrest of drug traffickers, rehabilitation of victims, and prosecution of offenders.
The chairman identified drug traffickers as the major targets of the committee, describing them as a threat to society. He added that intelligence gathering, cooperation with security agencies, and community participation would be central to the fight against drug-related crimes.
Rimin-Gado also said the committee would focus on dismantling violent groups operating in the state, noting that groups declared unlawful under Section 97A of the Kano State Penal Code could attract a minimum five-year prison sentence upon conviction.
He urged parents to pay closer attention to their children’s activities, stressing that proper supervision was important in preventing substance abuse and youth involvement in criminal activities.
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