Kano State Government has reinforced the operations of the Special Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with the provision of five brand-new operational vehicles to strengthen its campaign against drug abuse, illicit trafficking, and related criminal activities across the state.
The vehicles, four 2025 model Toyota Hilux trucks and one Toyota Hiace bus, were officially handed over to the Chairman of the task force, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, on Friday by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Faruk Ibrahim, at the Cabinet Office in Kano.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the SSG said the committee had demonstrated remarkable commitment and achieved visible results within a short period of its inauguration, making additional operational support necessary.
He explained that the vehicles would enhance the task force’s mobility, intelligence gathering, field operations, and collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
According to Ibrahim, the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf remains committed to equipping the committee with the resources needed to effectively carry out its mandate, noting that the impact of its activities is already being felt across the state.
The Special Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was inaugurated by the Kano State Government as part of a coordinated strategy to tackle the growing menace of substance abuse, illicit drug trafficking, and associated crimes.
The multi-agency 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.
The task force is mandated to coordinate intelligence gathering, identify and dismantle drug distribution networks and illegal drug dens, support enforcement operations, promote public awareness campaigns, and strengthen rehabilitation and preventive measures, particularly among young people.
Responding on behalf of the committee, its Chairman, Barrister Rimingado, expressed appreciation to Governor Yusuf for the confidence reposed in the task force and commended the commitment of its members and partner agencies.
He assured the government that the committee would intensify its efforts to justify the trust placed in it by maintaining professionalism, integrity, and dedication in the fight against drug-related crimes.
Rimingado also pledged sustained collaboration with security agencies, traditional and religious institutions, educational institutions, community leaders, and civil society organisations to curb substance abuse and create a safer and healthier environment for residents of Kano State.
The establishment of the task force followed growing concerns over the impact of substance abuse on public safety, youth development, family wellbeing, and social stability.
With the deployment of the additional operational vehicles, the committee is expected to expand its reach, strengthen enforcement activities, dismantle illicit drug networks, and deepen preventive and awareness campaigns across the state.
