Kano task force chair warns politicians against releasing thugs

The chairman of Kano State's Inter-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Muhuyi Rimin-Gado, has issued a stern warning to politicians, urging them not to pressure the committee for the release of arrested thugs or drug offenders. Rimin-Gado stated that the task force would operate impartially, regardless of an individual's political standing.

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No politician should approach me to release any thug if we arrest him. This is Kano, and we are all indigenes of the state. We will not allow a few people to destroy its future.

"No politician should approach me to release any thug if we arrest him," Rimin-Gado declared during a meeting with media executives. He stressed that only the Governor, Abba Yusuf, who inaugurated the committee, could request such releases, and doing so would imply a demand for his own resignation. The task force, comprising representatives from various security agencies, was formed to address rising drug abuse, trafficking, and gang-related violence in the state.

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The only person who can ask me to release anybody is the Governor. If he does so, it simply means he is indirectly asking me to resign.

Governor Yusuf declared a public health emergency on substance abuse on July 22, leading to the task force's establishment. Its mandate includes cracking down on traffickers, curbing substance abuse, rehabilitating victims, and prosecuting offenders. Rimin-Gado identified drug traffickers as the primary adversaries of society, with a parallel commitment to rehabilitation and community engagement. Statistics from the Kano State Police Command indicate that approximately 70% of major crimes in 2025 were linked to drug abuse, highlighting the urgency of the government's response.

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Our major target is the drug traffickers because they are the main enemies of society. We are also committed to creating mechanisms for rehabilitation and community engagement.

The task force will also focus on dismantling violent gangs, which are now outlawed under an executive order. Membership in such groups carries a minimum five-year prison sentence upon conviction. Rimin-Gado outlined the committee's strategy, which will involve intelligence gathering, collaboration with security agencies, and community participation to combat drug-related crimes and enhance public safety. He also appealed to parents to actively monitor their children's activities, emphasizing the critical role of parental supervision in preventing substance abuse and youth involvement in criminal activities.

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If not for drug abuse, thousands of crimes would not have occurred. That is why the government is deeply concerned and established this multi-agency task force to confront the menace.