Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has intensified the state’s crackdown on drug abuse, thuggery and illicit trafficking with the commissioning of a Quick Response Squad and the unveiling of operational equipment worth hundreds of millions of naira.
The initiative, commissioned on Thursday, November 5, 2026, is aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of the Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking to tackle drug-related activities through rapid response, enforcement, rehabilitation and reintegration.
Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Yusuf expressed satisfaction with the progress made by his administration in confronting substance abuse, declaring that sustained efforts were yielding positive results.
“I am the happiest man in Kano today as we continue to push drug abuse down to the barest minimum,” he said.
The Governor said the newly established Quick Response Squad would enable the Task Force to respond swiftly to reports, security threats and emerging cases of drug abuse and illicit trafficking across the state.
He stressed, however, that the fight against drug abuse must go beyond arrests and prosecution, noting that rehabilitation, skills acquisition and economic empowerment were essential to preventing rehabilitated persons from returning to substance abuse and criminal activities.
Yusuf assured that his administration would sustain support for apprenticeship and skills acquisition programmes to provide rehabilitated persons with legitimate means of livelihood and facilitate their reintegration into society.
He commended the Chairman and members of the Multi-Agency Task Force for their commitment and dedication, describing their achievements as evidence of the importance of sustained collaboration among government agencies and other stakeholders.
The Governor, who was accompanied by the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jibril Ismaila Falgore, and other senior government officials, also inspected the newly commissioned facility and operational equipment.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Multi-Agency Task Force, Muhyi Magaji Rimin Gado, said the Quick Response Squad and newly acquired equipment would significantly strengthen the agency’s ability to tackle drug-related activities and protect communities from the consequences of substance abuse.
He assured that the Task Force would sustain its enforcement operations and deepen collaboration with relevant agencies, stressing that the fight against drug abuse required consistency, determination and collective responsibility.
Rimin Gado expressed appreciation to Governor Yusuf for his political will and continued support, saying the administration’s backing had strengthened the Task Force’s capacity to discharge its responsibilities.
He further called for greater involvement of traditional and religious leaders, parents, educational institutions, communities, security agencies and other stakeholders in addressing the menace.
The Chairman reaffirmed the Task Force’s commitment to strengthening preventive measures, enforcement, rehabilitation and reintegration programmes to reduce drug abuse and illicit trafficking across Kano State.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
