By Usman Usman Garba
The Kano State Government has strengthened the operations of the Special Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking by providing five brand-new operational vehicles to enhance the committee’s capacity to tackle drug-related offences and associated social vices across the state.
In a statement issued by the Press Secretary to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Musa Tanko Muhammad, the vehicles comprising four 2025 model Toyota Hilux trucks and one Toyota Hiace bus were formally handed over to the Chairman of the committee, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Faruk Ibrahim, at the Cabinet Office in Kano.
According to the statement, the intervention followed the recent inauguration of the Special Task Force as part of the Kano State Government’s coordinated strategy to address the growing challenge of substance abuse, illicit drug trafficking, and related criminal activities across the state.
Speaking during the handover, Ibrahim said the committee had demonstrated remarkable commitment and recorded visible achievements within a short period, making the additional operational support necessary.
He explained that the vehicles would improve the committee’s mobility, field operations, intelligence coordination, and collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
The SSG reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to providing the resources required for the effective discharge of the committee’s mandate, noting that the positive impact of its activities was already being felt across Kano.
The statement noted that the Special Task Force was established under the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to provide a coordinated multi-agency response to drug abuse and criminal networks linked to illicit substances.
The committee comprises representatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Kano State Hisbah Board, the Kano Emirate Council, the Council of Ulama, the Ministry of Health, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, civil society organisations, and other relevant stakeholders.
Its mandate includes coordinating intelligence gathering, dismantling drug distribution networks, supporting enforcement operations, promoting public awareness, and strengthening rehabilitation and preventive measures aimed at reducing substance abuse, particularly among young people.
Responding on behalf of the committee, its Chairman, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, expressed appreciation to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for the confidence reposed in the committee and pledged to intensify efforts to justify the trust placed in it.
He assured the government that the task force would continue to work with security agencies, traditional and religious institutions, educational institutions, community leaders, and civil society organisations to create a safer and healthier environment for residents of Kano State.
The statement added that the latest operational support would enable the committee to expand its reach, intensify enforcement activities, dismantle illicit drug trafficking networks, and contribute significantly to improving public safety and social stability across the state.
