Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Kano State Police Command has arrested five suspects for allegedly administering and distributing unverified locally made medicines to members of the public without approval from relevant health authorities, warning individuals and organisations against conducting medical outreaches without proper authorisation. The suspects were apprehended on Monday, August 3, 2026, at approximately 9:00 a.m. at the ECWA Church premises located behind the No. 52 Police Mobile Force Base in the Challawa area of Kano State.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, operatives of the 52 Police Mobile Force initially intercepted six male suspects attached to the Brother Paul Legacy Foundation, a group led by Simon Gbaaondo, 50, a resident of Karu, Nasarawa State. The suspects were allegedly administering and selling unverified locally made herbal medicine to a large number of residents from the Panshekara community, offering the substances both free of charge and for sale without clearance from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) or other relevant health regulatory agencies. The person who hosted the group on the church premises has also been invited for questioning to assist with the ongoing investigation.
The case was initially reported at the Panshekara Police Division following complaints from concerned members of the community over the safety of the medicine being distributed. It was subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), where five of the suspects are currently undergoing further investigation. The police confirmed that the activity had generated significant public outcry, prompting the command to act swiftly to prevent potential health risks.
In a stern warning, the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, cautioned individuals, religious bodies, and organisations against administering drugs, locally made medicines, or conducting medical outreaches without due authorisation and verification from the Kano State Government, NAFDAC, and other relevant health authorities. The police noted that such unauthorised activities pose serious health and security risks to the public, particularly when large crowds are involved. "Individuals and organisations should not administer drugs, locally made medicine or conduct medical outreaches without due authorisation and verification from the state government, NAFDAC and other relevant health authorities. Such acts pose serious health and security risks to the public, especially when large crowds are involved," Kiyawa stated.
The command reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the lives and well-being of all residents and warned that it would not tolerate any activity capable of endangering public health or disrupting public order. The police also urged members of the public to promptly report any suspicious medical outreach or the distribution of unverified medicines to the nearest police station for immediate action, assuring that further updates would be provided as investigations progress. The arrest of the suspects follows a joint operation by the Kano State Ministry of Health, the Private Health Institutions Management Agency, the Kano State Centre for Disease Control, and the police, which had been tracking reports of unauthorised medical activities in the state.
Preliminary investigations conducted by health officials established that the mastermind and other suspects were neither qualified health professionals nor possessed any recognised health-related certification. The registration cards issued by the suspects, which bear an address in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, falsely promised "free treatment" in an apparent attempt to lure unsuspecting victims into the illegal operation. The Kano State Government has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to eliminating quackery, protecting lives, and ensuring that healthcare services across the state remain safe, ethical, and professionally regulated.
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