Kano State task force says 70% of crimes tied to drug abuse, warns politicians

Muhuyi Rimin‑Gado, chairman of the Kano State Inter‑Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, warned politicians that they must not pressure the committee to release arrested suspects, stating that only the governor could request such a release and that it would amount to a resignation. He said the task force was created after Governor Abba Kabir‑Yusuf declared a statewide public‑health emergency on substance abuse. Data from the Kano State Police Command show that more than 70 % of the 3,080 major crimes recorded in 2024‑2025 were linked to drug abuse, with roughly 2,700 offenses tied to drug use or trafficking. The committee’s mandate includes cracking down on drug traffickers, dismantling violent gangs outlawed under Section 97A of the Kano State Penal Code, rehabilitating victims and prosecuting offenders. Rimin‑Gado called on parents, politicians and the media to support the effort and urged community participation to reduce crime. Offenders found to belong to prohibited groups face a minimum five‑year prison sentence.