A joint task force in Kano State has arrested 78 suspected drug dealers and gang members during a four-day enforcement operation, authorities said on Thursday.
The crackdown, carried out in partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigeria Police Force, targeted high-risk neighborhoods including Fagge, Badawa, Mariri Yan’itace, Kasuwar Rimi, Masallacin Idi, Yankaba, Hotoro Flyover, Kofar Mata, Rijiyar Zaki and Jakara.
Raids were also conducted at Rumfa College, Dan’agundi Graveyard and Kofar Wambai.
Sixty suspects were taken into custody, and security forces seized cannabis sativa, Diazepam, Exol-5, Pregabalin, rubber solution, and a range of other illicit substances, NDLEA spokesman Sadiq Maigatari said in a statement.
“Our commitment to eradicating drug abuse and thuggery in Kano is unwavering. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those responsible for these crimes are brought to justice,” Maigatari said.
The NDLEA commander in Kano, A.I. Ahmad, praised the task force for its work and thanked the police and state government for their support.
Investigations into the suspects are ongoing, and officials said prosecutions will follow. At the same time, the task force pledged to expand rehabilitation programmes to address the causes of drug abuse and youth involvement in crime.
Authorities urged residents to report suspicious activities, stressing that community cooperation is critical to sustaining gains against crime and building a safer, drug-free environment in Kano.