Wednesday, September 9, 2026 - The Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking has secured nine-year prison sentences for two men convicted of supplying rubber solution and other intoxicating substances to underage children in Kano.
The convicts, Kabiru Isa, also known as Mada, and Usman
Hamisu, also known as Mani, were sentenced by Magistrate Muhammad Alhaji Sani
of Magistrate Court No. 44, Gwammaja, Kano.
This was disclosed by Lamara Garba, Media and Publicity
Committee
Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit
Trafficking on Tuesday.
They were found guilty of criminal conspiracy, membership of
an unlawful society and administering intoxicating substances, offences under
Sections 97, 97A and 249 of the Penal Code.
Each man was sentenced to a total of nine years in prison
without an option of fine. The court also ordered that the sentences be served
consecutively and that each year must be completed as a full 12 calendar
months, including weekends.
The conviction followed an investigation by the task force,
led by its Chairman, Muhuyi Magaji, into the exposure of vulnerable children to
intoxicating substances around Race Course in Kano.
“The case emerged following the rescue of 43 children, most
of them underage, from the Race Course area. While some of the children are
indigenes of Kano State, others had arrived in Kano from different parts of the
country and had become trapped in the harsh realities of street life,” he said.
“Investigations by the Task Force uncovered a disturbing
pattern in which children engaged in street based scavenging were supplied with
rubber solution and other harmful substances instead of receiving proper
payment for their services. This practice exposed the children to intoxicants
and further deepened their vulnerability,” he added
According to the task force, the practice exposed the
children to intoxicants and made their situation even worse.
The arrest and conviction of the two men are part of the
task force’s efforts to stop the exploitation of vulnerable children and young
people and tackle the supply of harmful substances.
The task force said it would continue to identify,
investigate, arrest and prosecute anyone involved in supplying intoxicating
substances to children or encouraging drug abuse.
The rescue of the 43 children is part of a wider plan to
take 10,000 vulnerable youths off the streets, especially those exposed to
substance abuse and other harmful influences.
The initiative will involve medical and psychosocial
assessments of the youths. Those who need treatment will receive it, while
others will be supported through rehabilitation, skills training and
reintegration into society.
The task force said its goal is not only to remove young
people from the streets but also to help them rebuild their lives, gain useful
skills and become productive members of their communities.
Speaking on the conviction and the wider programme, Task
Force Chairman Muhuyi Magaji said the agency would continue to enforce the law
while also focusing on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration.
He said vulnerable children and young people affected by
substance abuse should not only be treated as offenders but should also be
protected and given the opportunity to recover.
He also warned that people who take advantage of vulnerable
children and young people for personal gain would be held accountable.
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