A.A. Zaura Launches Bold Initiative to Tackle Thuggery, Drug Abuse in Kano

Concerned by the growing menace of thuggery and drug abuse in Kano State, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdulsalam Abdulkarim, popularly known as A.A. Zaura, has warned that the trend could lead to catastrophic consequences if left unchecked.

Zaura issued the warning while convening a stakeholders’ meeting in Kano to unveil his new initiative, “From Street to Straight”, a policy-driven campaign aimed at curbing youth involvement in street violence and substance abuse.

Speaking at the event, Zaura, who was the APC’s 2023 Kano Central Senatorial candidate, urged community leaders, traditional rulers, security agencies, and civil society organizations to work collectively to rescue young people from the grip of crime and addiction.

“Children as young as 13 are involved in thuggery and drug abuse in Kano,” he said. “If we fail to act now, this crisis will become a disaster. It’s our collective duty to show these youths they are not abandoned. We must listen, rehabilitate, and reintegrate them.”

Zaura emphasized that his foundation is taking the lead by returning affected youths to school and providing vocational training to empower them. According to him, the initiative is non-partisan and solely focused on ensuring lasting peace and security in the state.

“Our vision is to see a peaceful Kano, where people can sleep with both eyes closed and walk freely without fear,” he added.

Also speaking at the event, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, acknowledged the growing threat posed by street gangs and drug-related crimes. He revealed that in just two months, the police had arrested 357 suspects involved in thuggery, drug peddling, and other criminal activities, along with the recovery of significant quantities of illicit substances.

The Kano State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Abubakar Idris, pledged unwavering support from security agencies, vowing that no stone would be left unturned in the fight against drug abuse and youth violence.

Earlier, the Director of the Project, Garba Shehu, noted that the event was a timely platform for dialogue and solution-finding among stakeholders committed to addressing one of Kano’s most pressing social challenges.