Sokoto – Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has approved the formation of a task force and a mobile court to curb illegal sale of drugs in the state.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Alhaji Almustapha Othman, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Sokoto.
Othman said, ” the governor’s gesture was precipitated by the increasing menace of illicit sales and abuse of drugs by most youths in the state.
”The task force comprises stakeholders that are involved in the national and global drugs war.
”The stakeholders include officials of the ministry, judiciary, security agencies, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), among others.”
He said that the task force would raid all illegal patent medicine stores and drug hawkers.
Othman said, ” this class of drug hawkers, popularly called Kafada or shoulder chemists in the state, are as dangerous and deadly as any other illegal drug seller.
”The mobile court will operate together with the task force to summarily try all offenders,” he added. (NAN)