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By Lizzy Chirkpi
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano Strategic Command, has dealt a great blow on illicit drug activities with a targeted raid around the old campus area of Bayero University Kano (BUK), resulting in the arrest of six suspected offenders.
The operation, codenamed “Operation Sharar Mafaka,” was carried out following a formal complaint by the university management over the growing presence of drug peddlers and users within and around the campus community.
Spokesperson of the Kano Command, Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics, Sadiq Maigatari, disclosed the development while briefing journalists in Kano on Monday, noting that the agency acted swiftly on credible intelligence provided by the institution.
“The operation was conducted in response to a formal complaint from the management of Bayero University Kano regarding the alarming activities of suspected drug dealers and users occupying parts of the old campus and adjoining areas,” Maigatari said.
According to him, NDLEA operatives stormed identified hotspots during the early hours of the operation, arresting six individuals described as trespassers who had allegedly converted sections of the area into drug dens.
“Our officers successfully apprehended six suspects and dismantled several illegal drug joints. Various items associated with drug abuse and trafficking were recovered and immediately destroyed to prevent further use,” he added.
Although the agency did not immediately disclose the identities of the suspects, Maigatari confirmed that investigations are ongoing, with a view to prosecuting those found culpable.
The NDLEA spokesperson reiterated the agency’s commitment to sanitizing educational environments and protecting students from the dangers of substance abuse.
“We will continue to collaborate with educational institutions and community stakeholders to ensure that campuses remain safe and drug-free. This operation sends a clear message that such illegal activities will not be tolerated,” he stated.
Authorities at BUK had earlier raised concerns over increasing cases of drug-related activities in areas surrounding the old campus, warning that the trend posed a serious threat to student safety and the academic environment.
Security analysts say the raid underscores a growing pattern of collaboration between tertiary institutions and law enforcement agencies in tackling drug abuse, particularly in urban centres where campuses are vulnerable to infiltration by criminal elements.