A Kano court has sentenced two men to a combined nine years in prison for supplying intoxicating substances to children, in a case that highlights growing concern over the exposure of minors to drug abuse in the state.
The convicts, Kabiru Isa, popularly known as Mada, and Usman Hamisu, also known as Mani, were prosecuted after the Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking linked them to the distribution of rubber solution and other intoxicating substances to underage children.
Magistrate Muhammad Alhaji delivered the sentences in Kano on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, according to reports on the proceedings.
Each man received a four-and-a-half-year prison term, bringing the combined sentence to nine years.
The convictions come amid intensified efforts by authorities in Kano to disrupt drug markets and reduce access to psychoactive substances, particularly among young people.
The prosecution established its case against Isa and Hamisu before the magistrate, leading to their conviction and imprisonment.
The case is significant because it involves alleged distribution of intoxicating substances to children rather than simple possession or consumption by adults.
Authorities have increasingly focused on the role of drug suppliers and dealers in making psychoactive substances accessible to vulnerable groups.
The two men were identified as:
- Kabiru Isa (Mada)
- Usman Hamisu (Mani)
Both were sentenced to four years and six months each.
The prosecution was handled as part of the state’s broader multi-agency response to drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
The convictions provide a judicial component to Kano’s ongoing campaign against the distribution of substances capable of causing addiction and other health and social consequences.
The case comes at a time when Nigerian authorities are stepping up efforts to prevent children and teenagers from gaining access to illicit and potentially harmful substances.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has repeatedly warned that drug traffickers and dealers increasingly use methods that can make psychoactive substances attractive or accessible to young people.
In August, the NDLEA warned parents about illicit substances being disguised as familiar products, including cookies and gummies, as part of its wider campaign against drug abuse.
The Kano case therefore goes beyond the punishment of two individuals. It raises questions about how communities can prevent children from becoming early users of intoxicating substances and how authorities can dismantle the supply networks that facilitate access.
Early exposure can increase the risk of substance dependence and can affect education, family relationships, physical health and social development.
The convictions form part of a broader law-enforcement campaign in Kano.
Authorities have recently increased operations against drug-selling locations and other areas considered vulnerable to substance abuse. In August, reports indicated that the NDLEA arrested 80 suspects and dismantled 16 drug joints in Kano during operations under its “Operation Restore Order” campaign.
The scale of those operations illustrates the wider challenge facing the state.
The crackdown has involved enforcement agencies alongside community and public-awareness initiatives aimed at reducing demand for illicit substances.
Some of the challenges confronting Kano include:
- The availability of psychoactive substances in communities.
- The involvement of young people in drug-related activity.
- The existence of locations where drugs can be sold or consumed.
- The need for stronger prevention and rehabilitation programmes.
- The difficulty of sustaining enforcement beyond individual arrests.
The latest convictions show that authorities are also pursuing cases through the courts rather than relying solely on arrests and seizures.
While the prison sentences send a deterrent message to people involved in supplying intoxicants, experts and public-health advocates have consistently stressed that enforcement alone cannot eliminate drug abuse.
A sustainable response requires prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and community education alongside criminal investigations.
Kano has previously faced concerns about the health consequences of substance misuse, particularly among young people. Existing state health programmes have also identified the importance of strengthening healthcare capacity and community awareness around preventable health conditions affecting children.
For families, schools and community leaders, early identification of substance use can be particularly important.
Children exposed to drugs may require medical, psychological and social support, especially where repeated use has already developed into dependency.
The nine-year combined sentence gives authorities another judicial victory in the fight against drug distribution in Kano, but the broader challenge remains substantial.
The case demonstrates the importance of targeting people who supply intoxicating substances to minors while also addressing the conditions that allow young people to encounter drugs in the first place.
For Kano, the next phase of the campaign will likely require closer cooperation between enforcement agencies, schools, healthcare providers, parents and community leaders.
The immediate message from the court is clear: supplying intoxicating substances to children can result in serious criminal consequences.
The longer-term test, however, will be whether sustained enforcement and prevention efforts can reduce the availability of drugs and keep more children from being drawn into substance abuse.
