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.
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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.
The task force called on parents, community leaders, traditional institutions and other stakeholders to do more to protect children and young people from substance abuse.
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