Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Kano State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raided the old site of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), arresting six suspects and dismantling several illegal drug joints in a decisive crackdown on campus-related narcotics activities. The operation, carried out under the agency’s long-running enforcement drive codenamed “Operation Sharar Mafaka,” followed weeks of surveillance and a formal complaint from the university’s management regarding the sale and consumption of illicit substances within and around the institution.
According to a statement released on Monday, May 4, 2026, by Sadiq Muhammad-Maigatari, Public Relations Officer of the NDLEA Kano Strategic Command, the suspects were apprehended for criminal trespass and active involvement in the distribution and use of prohibited narcotics. “The operation targeted identified black spots in and around the old campus of Bayero University, Kano, as part of the agency’s ongoing enforcement initiative. The raid was launched in response to a formal complaint by the university management over rising concerns about illicit drug activities within the area,” the statement read. Commander Dahiru Yahaya-Lawal, who oversaw the operation, confirmed that various quantities of psychoactive substances were recovered from the suspects. All seized items were promptly destroyed to prevent their re-entry into circulation.
“This action demonstrates our commitment to ensuring a drug-free environment where students, staff, and their families can live and work in safety,” Commander Yahaya-Lawal declared. He added that the command would not relent until all drug joints within the university environment and adjoining areas are completely dislodged. Six suspects were taken into custody, and preliminary investigations are underway to determine the full extent of their involvement in the local narcotics supply chain. The agency noted that the success of the raid was largely due to effective collaboration with university authorities. The institution’s timely report enabled a swift and targeted intervention, addressing what the NDLEA described as a serious threat to the campus and its surrounding community.
Operation Sharar Mafaka, which roughly translates from Hausa to mean “Clearing Hideouts” or “Sweeping Safe Havens,” was launched in late April 2026 as a sustained campaign to dismantle drug distribution points across the Kano metropolis. The ongoing offensive began with a series of coordinated raids between April 27 and April 29, which targeted over 20 drug hotspots across the city. Those initial sweeps led to the arrest of 52 suspects, including four women, with the seizure of assorted drugs, drug paraphernalia, and locally fabricated weapons. The BUK old campus raid represents a significant expansion of that campaign into a highly sensitive educational zone—underscoring the agency’s determination to rid schools of criminal elements.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), has repeatedly warned about the escalation of substance abuse within Nigeria’s higher educational institutions. In April 2026, while delivering a convocation lecture at the University of Abuja, Marwa stated that substance abuse had moved from being a street challenge to a lecture hall problem. He disclosed shocking survey findings indicating that many undergraduates are initiated into substance abuse around the age of 19, with devastating consequences for their academic performance, mental health, and long-term well-being. The NDLEA leader has since called for mandatory drug integrity tests for students, a policy that has received broad support from student union leaders across the country.
The Kano NDLEA Command further warned individuals against using public institutions, particularly schools, for drug-related offences. It urged residents and institutions to remain vigilant and to continue providing credible information that would help uncover remaining drug networks. “We will not tolerate the use of government or educational facilities for drug-related activities,” Commander Yahaya-Lawal stated. “Offenders will be brought to justice.” He reiterated that the command would sustain the momentum of Operation Sharar Mafaka, maintaining that collective vigilance remains the key to eliminating drug abuse and trafficking in the country.
Nationwide, the NDLEA has intensified its offensive against narcotics. In the first quarter of 2026, the agency secured the conviction of 974 drug offenders, including 11 drug kingpins who were sentenced to a combined total of 254 years in prison. A further breakdown of the conviction figures showed that 899 of the convicted individuals were male, while 75 were female. These enforcement actions and the escalating crisis on campus underscore the scale of a threat that continues to ravage Nigerian youth, one dangerous joint at a time.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments