Gov Yusuf Commissions Quick Response Squad to Tackle Drug Abuse, Thuggery in Kano

By Uzair Adam

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has commissioned a Quick Response Squad of the Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, alongside operational equipment worth hundreds of millions of naira, to strengthen the fight against drug abuse, thuggery and illicit trafficking in the state.

The Daily Reality reports that the development was announced in a statement issued by Lamara Garba, Secretary of the Task Force’s Media and Publicity Committee, following the commissioning ceremony held on Thursday, November 5, 2026.

Speaking at the event, Yusuf expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded in the state’s campaign against drug abuse, saying the sustained efforts of the government and its partner agencies 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,” the governor declared.

He said the newly established Quick Response Squad would strengthen the operational capacity of the task force by enabling it to respond promptly to reports, incidents and emerging threats associated with substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

Yusuf also described the newly procured equipment as a significant investment in the state’s security and public health, stressing that relevant agencies must be adequately equipped to tackle the growing menace of drug abuse.

The governor emphasised that the fight against substance abuse should go beyond arrests and prosecution, noting that rehabilitation, skills acquisition and reintegration were equally important in addressing the problem.

He said his administration would sustain support for skills acquisition and apprenticeship programmes to enable rehabilitated persons to become economically productive and reduce their chances of returning to drug use and other criminal activities.

Yusuf commended the chairman and members of the Multi-Agency Task Force for their commitment and dedication, saying their achievements within a relatively short period demonstrated the importance of collaboration among government agencies and other stakeholders.

The governor, accompanied by the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Jibril Ismaila Falgore, and other senior government officials, also inspected the newly commissioned facility and operational equipment.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Muhyi Magaji Rimin Gado, pledged the task force’s continued commitment to tackling substance abuse and illicit trafficking across Kano State.

Rimin Gado said the Quick Response Squad and the newly acquired equipment would significantly improve the agency’s ability to respond to drug-related challenges and protect communities from the consequences of substance abuse.

He assured the governor that the task force would sustain its operations, stressing that addressing drug abuse required consistency, determination and effective collaboration among relevant agencies.

The chairman also appreciated Yusuf for his political will and continued support, saying the government’s backing had strengthened the task force’s capacity to discharge its responsibilities without fear or favour.

He further described the fight against drug abuse as a collective responsibility involving government institutions, security and regulatory agencies, traditional and religious leaders, parents, communities and educational institutions.

Rimin Gado pledged that the task force would intensify its preventive, enforcement, rehabilitation and reintegration programmes to reduce substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the state.