At least 73 minors have been detained by the Borno State Government on suspicion of engaging in drug addiction.
According to reports, the kids were collected from various places, such as Gwange Kasan Gada and Bulabulin Kasuwa.
According to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, which spearheaded the initiative, the move was a bold and decisive measure to limit the rising epidemic of drug consumption and the involvement of minors in illicit activities on the streets of Maiduguri.
According to the DAILY POST, the action was taken after a troubling video of a young child who was hardly in his teens publicly confessing to drug abuse went viral on social media.
According to a ministry statement released on Wednesday, several of the kids, who ranged in age from 12 to 15, were exposed to criminal activity in addition to substance abuse.
Zuwaira Gambo, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, said that the children were successfully removed from the streets and sent to Maiduguri’s Bulumkuttu Rehabilitation Centre.
According to Gambo, the youngsters would be cared for and supervised by the Borno State Government during extensive rehabilitation, therapy, and reintegration programs.
While addressing the children before their relocation, Gambo expressed deep concern over the rising trend of drug use among minors, stressing that the government would not stand by and watch the future of its youth being destroyed.
READ ALSO: 2025 UTME Bombshell: JAMB Admits Shocking Errors in Exam Process
“You are still very young, and you deserve a better life than this. We are not here to punish you, but to support you. The Borno State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, is committed to giving you another chance to live a meaningful and responsible life,” she said.
The commissioner further stated that the ministry would continue to trace, rescue, and rehabilitate more children at risk across the state while working closely with security agencies, traditional leaders, community members, and NGOs to eliminate the root causes of drug abuse and child endangerment.
