Rahab Yusuf
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano Strategic Command, on Monday publicly destroyed 12,233.946 kilograms of illicit drugs.
The agency’s Media and Advocacy Officer, Sadiq Muhammad Maigatari, said in a statement on Monday that the substances were intercepted through sustained intelligence-led operations across the state and at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.
According to the statement, the exercise, led by Commander CN Dahiru Yahaya Lawal, marked a major milestone in the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign and demonstrated the NDLEA’s resolve to intercept, investigate, prosecute, and permanently remove dangerous substances from circulation.
The statement further disclosed that the destroyed drugs were recovered through intelligence-led operations and raids on drug hotspots, including Sharar Mafaka, Ramadan Mubarak, and tunnels and caves in the Rimin Kebe area.
According to the statement, since January 2026, the Kano Strategic Command has arrested more than 904 suspects—869 males and 35 females—seized over 2.5 tonnes of assorted illicit substances, and secured more than 54 convictions. Some offenders have received prison sentences of up to 15 years, demonstrating that arrests lead to prosecutions and prosecutions lead to consequences.
The agency called for a comprehensive approach that combines robust law enforcement with prevention, treatment, and community engagement. It also urged traditional and religious leaders, school managements, and community members to support its efforts to rid the state of illicit drugs.
The Executive Governor of Kano State said the public destruction of the drugs demonstrates the state’s firm resolve to deny criminal networks the ability to poison communities. He added that enforcement efforts would be complemented by rehabilitation initiatives, including visits to the Kiru Rehabilitation Centre, the Anti-Illicit Drugs and Phone Snatching Committee, the deployment of marshals to identified hotspots, and the Safe Corridor Project for youth reintegration.
The governor noted that more than 400 youths have been arrested, with most rehabilitated and reintegrated into society, while major drug dealers continue to face prosecution. He also pledged continued intelligence sharing, expanded rehabilitation capacity, and logistical support for the agency.
DCGN Ningi said the exercise sends a clear message to drug cartels and reflects the NDLEA’s commitment to protecting communities through law enforcement, supply chain oversight, Alternative Development programmes for farmers, and Drug Integrity Testing on campuses.
The NDLEA Kano Strategic Command reaffirmed that it would continue its efforts until Kano is free from the grip of illicit drugs, describing the public destruction exercise as a demonstration of accountability and a renewed call for collective action to protect the state’s youth, families, and communities.
