In response to growing alarm over drug abuse among minors, the Borno State Government has rescued 73 children from the streets of Maiduguri, many of whom were found using hard substances and engaging in criminal behaviour.
The intervention, carried out in areas such as Bulabulin Kasuwa and Gwange Kasan Gada, was led by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
It was sparked by a disturbing viral video that showed a boy, seemingly in his early teens, openly admitting to drug consumption.
According to the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Zuwaira Gambo, the rescued children, most aged between 12 and 15, have been moved to the Bulumkuttu Rehabilitation Centre.
There, they are expected to receive counselling, undergo rehabilitation, and benefit from programs designed to reintegrate them into society.
Gambo addressed the children during the relocation exercise, stating that the operation was meant to give them a fresh start, not to punish them.
She urged the minors to embrace the opportunity and assured them of the government’s support under Governor Babagana Zulum’s leadership.
She also pledged that the ministry would continue to identify and rescue vulnerable children, working hand in hand with law enforcement, traditional rulers, local communities, and civil society groups to address the root of youth addiction and street crime.