Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu has attributed approximately 80 per cent of the security challenges confronting the state to hard dr#g abuse, warning that narcotics-fuelled criminality is driving banditry and violent cr!me across the region.
Advertisements
The governor made the remarks on Thursday, June 25, at a public lecture organised to mark the 2026 United Nations International Day Against Dr#g Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, held at the Auditorium of Sultan Maccido Institute for Qur’an and General Studies in Sokoto. He was represented by Deputy Governor Alhaji Idris Mohammed Gobir.
Advertisements
“The security challenges bedevilling our state are 80 per cent contributed by hard drugs. These people are taking serious hard drugs. No human being in his normal sense would look at another human being and take his life,” the governor said.
Aliyu said many bandits and violent criminals commit atrocities while under the influence of narcotics, describing how perpetrators attack villages, kill innocent people and raze entire communities without remorse.
“Such actions are against our religion and humanity. Drug abuse is more dangerous than many people think,” he said.
The governor warned young people that drug abuse and trafficking would rob them of their potential and futures. “We want you to become presidents, ministers, governors and chairmen of important companies in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But you cannot achieve that if you engage in drug abuse and drug trafficking,” he said.
Aliyu noted that beyond security, drug abuse destroys families, undermines the health of communities and poses grave social risks. He also expressed concern over illicit drug trafficking, describing it as a driver of organised crime that undermines both national and international security.
He stressed that combating the scourge required collective action beyond law enforcement, calling on parents, teachers, religious and traditional leaders, civil society organisations, healthcare professionals, community leaders and the media to actively participate in the fight.
The governor disclosed that his administration had established the Office of the Senior Special Assistant on Substance Abuse Control and Prevention as part of its institutional response to the crisis.
He commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for its sustained efforts in tackling drug abuse and trafficking, and urged all stakeholders to unite in protecting the future of young Nigerians and building a healthier, safer society.
Advertisements
