AA Zaura Foundation Seeks Business Community’s Intervention to End Thuggery in Kano

A prominent philanthropist and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdulkareem Abdussalam Zaura, popularly known as AA Zaura, has raised the alarm over the rising wave of drug abuse and armed youth violence in Kano State, warning that the situation could escalate into a full-blown security crisis if not urgently addressed. Zaura sounded the […]

A prominent philanthropist and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdulkareem Abdussalam Zaura, popularly known as AA Zaura, has raised the alarm over the rising wave of drug abuse and armed youth violence in Kano State, warning that the situation could escalate into a full-blown security crisis if not urgently addressed.

Zaura sounded the warning during a strategic engagement with members of the Kano business community, held under the auspices of the AA Zaura Foundation International. He said the twin scourges of drug addiction and youth gang violence—particularly the emergence of armed street thugs—pose a grave threat to peace, development, and economic stability in the state.

“We are not just here to talk. We are here to take a decisive solution and to act on this project From Street to Straight, which aims at combating the menace of drug abuse in Kano and other related activities,” he said.

“The activities of Daba (local thuggery) and drug abuse are a setback to any community that wants to develop in this world—and most importantly in our region, our community in Kano.”

Zaura warned that intelligence gathered through his Foundation’s engagements had revealed a disturbing trend of youths in possession of locally-made firearms and other dangerous weapons.

“Today they are using locally made weapons… But this solution has revealed to us that these guys have started taking guns. They started using guns. This is a serious time bomb. Please, we should not allow this to happen,” he said.

He stressed that solving the crisis requires more than law enforcement, calling for a comprehensive, non-kinetic approach that prioritises rehabilitation, reintegration, and empowerment of affected youths.

“I personally take this and I take this to my heart. If this will bring an end to my life, it will be a legacy that I believe some people or somebody will take over. I will not stop it. I will do it,” Zaura declared.

He called on Kano’s business community to take an active role in tackling the problem, noting their unmatched impact on youth empowerment through trade and mentorship.

“Let me be clear: nobody—I repeat—nobody provides opportunities to our youth in Kano more than the business community. Everyone sitting in this hall has empowered one youth or another.”

Zaura said his foundation had held extensive consultations with various stakeholders—including youths involved in drug use, traditional leaders, clerics, and community leaders—to identify root causes and forge locally driven solutions.

He commended the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS), vigilantes, and community watch groups for their ongoing efforts to maintain peace but noted that security agents alone cannot resolve the underlying problems.

“The real solution lies in the humane reintegration of these young people through rehabilitation, education, and empowerment,” he said.

As a key step, Zaura announced the planned launch of a pilot phase of the From Street to Straight project. The initiative will feature rehabilitation services, vocational and formal education support, and business empowerment programmes for reformed drug users and ex-gang members.

“I want to say that by breaking the staple, bringing an end to drug addiction, I’m not just talking about it. On the platform of AA Zaura Foundation, I have mapped out what is needed to start this project. We will soon launch the pilot project. In the very near future, this will come to existence, in sha Allah,” he said.

He urged individuals of goodwill, especially entrepreneurs and business leaders, to support the initiative in reclaiming Kano’s streets and restoring dignity and purpose to the lives of at-risk youths.

“This is not just a fight for Zaura or the Foundation. It’s a fight for the soul of Kano. Together, we can break the cycle and give our youths a future,” he said.