The Borno State Government has rescued 73 underage children from drug abuse and street-related crimes in Maiduguri, in a sweeping intervention aimed at combating substance abuse among vulnerable youths.
The children, aged between 12 and 15, were picked up from known hotspots including Bulabulin Kasuwa and Gwange Kasan Gada, following the circulation of a viral video showing a teenage boy openly admitting to drug use.
The operation was led by the Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development as part of a broader campaign to address the growing threat of drug addiction among minors. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry revealed that the children had been transferred to the Bulumkuttu Rehabilitation Centre in Maiduguri, where they will undergo intensive counselling, rehabilitation, and reintegration programs.
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, who personally addressed the children before their relocation, expressed alarm over the surge in drug use among minors. She reassured them that the government’s aim was not punitive, but restorative.
“You are still very young, and you deserve a better life than this. We are not here to punish you, but to support you,” Gambo said. “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 also pledged continued efforts to rescue and rehabilitate more at-risk children across the state, working in collaboration with security agencies, traditional leaders, community members, and non-governmental organizations to tackle the root causes of child endangerment and drug abuse.
The commissioner emphasized that the initiative reflects the unwavering commitment of Governor Zulum’s administration to safeguarding the rights and futures of Borno’s most vulnerable children.
