By Abdullahi Jalaludeen
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has commissioned a Quick Response Squad of the Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking to strengthen the fight against substance abuse, thuggery and illicit drug trafficking.
Yusuf also unveiled operational equipment to enhance the capacity of the task force and other relevant agencies to tackle drug-related activities across the state.
He expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded so far, saying the sustained interventions of the government and its partners were gradually 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.
Yusuf explained that the newly established Quick Response Squad would enable the task force to respond promptly to reports, incidents and emerging threats associated with substance abuse and illicit trafficking.
He stressed that the fight against drug abuse should go beyond arrests and prosecution to include rehabilitation, skills acquisition and reintegration of affected persons into society.
According to him, the government will sustain support for skills acquisition and apprenticeship programmes to empower rehabilitated persons and prevent them from returning to drug abuse and other criminal activities.
The governor commended the chairman and members of the task force for their dedication and commitment, saying their achievements demonstrated the importance of collaboration among security agencies and other stakeholders.
Yusuf, accompanied by the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Jibril Ismaila Falgore, and other senior government officials, inspected the newly commissioned facility and operational equipment.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Multi-Agency Task Force, Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, reaffirmed the commitment of the task force to intensifying the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking in the state.
Rimin Gado said the Quick Response Squad and the newly provided equipment would significantly improve the task force’s operational capacity and ability to respond effectively to drug-related challenges.
He commended the governor for his political will and sustained support, assuring that the task force would remain committed to its mandate without fear or favour.
The chairman emphasised that tackling drug abuse required collective responsibility involving government, security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, parents, educational institutions and communities.
He pledged that the task force would strengthen its enforcement, prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration programmes to reduce substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the state.
Editing By Godwin Duru
