The Borno State Government has rescued 73 underage children involved in substance abuse.
The children were picked up from various locations, including Bulabulin Kasuwa and Gwange Kasan Gada.
The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, which led the operation, stated that the action was a bold and decisive step towards addressing the growing issue of drug abuse and the involvement of children in illicit activities on the streets of Maiduguri.
The intervention followed the circulation of a disturbing video on social media, showing a young boy—barely in his teens—openly admitting to drug abuse.
According to a statement from the ministry on Wednesday, many of the children, aged between 12 and 15, were not only misusing substances but were also exposed to criminal activities.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, said the children had been safely removed from the streets and relocated to the Bulumkuttu Rehabilitation Centre in Maiduguri.
There, they will undergo comprehensive rehabilitation, counselling, and reintegration programmes under the care and supervision of the Borno State Government.
While addressing the children prior to their relocation, Gambo expressed deep concern over the rising trend of drug use among minors and emphasised that the government would not stand by and allow the future of its youth to be destroyed.
“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, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, is committed to giving you another chance to live a meaningful and responsible life,” she told them.
The commissioner added that the ministry would continue to identify, rescue, and rehabilitate more at-risk children across the state, working in collaboration with security agencies, traditional leaders, community members, and NGOs to tackle the root causes of drug abuse and child endangerment.
She noted that the intervention reaffirmed Governor Zulum’s administration’s commitment to safeguarding the most vulnerable members of society and fostering a safer, healthier future for all children in Borno.