The Borno State Government has rescued 73 children engaged in drug abuse and criminal activities, relocating them from the streets to the Bulumkuttu Rehabilitation Centre in Maiduguri.
This intervention came in response to a viral video showing a young teenager openly admitting to using drugs.
Authorities discovered that most of the affected minors, aged between 12 and 15, were not only addicted to harmful substances but also entangled in petty crimes.
The children were identified in high-risk areas such as Bulabulin Kasuwa and Gwange Kasan Gada—both flagged as hotspots for youth vulnerability in the state.
Acting swiftly, the Borno State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, led a team to rescue the minors and ensure their safe transfer to the rehabilitation facility.
At the centre, the children will undergo intensive rehabilitation, psychological counselling, and reintegration programs under the supervision of state authorities.
Addressing the rescued children, Gambo emphasized that the intervention was not punitive. “You are still very young and deserve a better future. We are here to help, not punish you,” she stated.
She reaffirmed Governor Babagana Zulum’s commitment to protecting the youth, adding that the government would continue identifying and rescuing more children at risk.
She also assured continued collaboration with security agencies, traditional rulers, communities, and NGOs to tackle the root causes of substance abuse and juvenile crime.
