By: Abdullahi InuwaÂ
The Katsina State Police Command has secured the conviction of 18 persons in seven drug-related cases, with some offenders handed prison terms of up to five years for offences involving the possession and sale of illicit drugs.
The convictions were secured at the Chief Magistrate Courts I and IV in Katsina following prosecution by the command’s Legal Section.
In a press release issued on October 14, 2026, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, said the convictions arose from cases charged to court between July 6 and August 28, 2026.
The command said the prosecutions formed part of ongoing efforts to combat drug-related offences and substance abuse in Katsina State under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ali Umar Fage.
Among those convicted was 31-year-old Muhammad Shafi’u, who was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine by Chief Magistrate Court I on July 17, 2026.
Shafi’u was convicted of possessing and selling dangerous drugs after 180 sachets of Pregabalin capsules and 13 sachets of Exol-5 tablets were tendered as exhibits in court.
On July 28, Aminu Ahmed, 25, was convicted of possessing and selling dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, as well as possessing dangerous drugs.
The court sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦100,000 fine, for possession of dangerous drugs. He also received a four-year prison sentence without the option of a fine for selling Indian hemp.
The exhibits in his case included 25 wraps of Indian hemp and 20 sachets of Pregabalin capsules.
Similarly, Muhammad Lawal, 30, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine on July 31 for possessing and selling dangerous drugs.
The court considered exhibits comprising 100 tablets of Exol-5, 200 tablets of Diazepam, 10 sachets of Tramadol capsules and 10 sachets of Pregabalin capsules.
Another convict, Sulaiman Abdullahi, 29, was sentenced on August 17 to five years’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦100,000 fine, for possession of dangerous drugs. The exhibit in his case was 40 tablets of Diazepam.
The command also secured the conviction of Musa Lawal, 25, on August 18 for the unlawful possession and sale of Indian hemp and dangerous drugs.
He received a five-year prison sentence, with an option of a fine, for possession, and four years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine for the sale of dangerous drugs.
The court proceedings involved 21 wraps of Indian hemp and 25 capsules of Pregabalin, each containing 300mg.
In another case decided on August 20, Talmizu Aliyu, 35, and Aliyu Abdullahi, 30, were convicted of possessing and selling Indian hemp and dangerous drugs.
The court sentenced Aliyu, the first convict, to five years’ imprisonment with an option of a ₦100,000 fine, while Abdullahi received four years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine.
Exhibits tendered in the case included 124 capsules of Tramadol, 90 tablets of Exol-5 and 40 wraps of Indian hemp.
Meanwhile, on August 28, Chief Magistrate Court IV convicted Musa Abdullahi and 10 others for the unlawful possession of Indian hemp.
The 11 convicts were each sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦15,000 fine. Dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp were presented as exhibits.
Police Reaffirm Commitment to Drug Control
The police said all exhibits were duly tendered before the courts and that the convicts had been remanded in correctional facilities to serve their sentences.
Reacting to the convictions, Commissioner of Police Ali Umar Fage commended the judiciary for the speedy dispensation of justice and praised police prosecutors for their diligence in handling the cases.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to sustaining the fight against illicit drugs and substance abuse across Katsina State.
The command said its efforts were being pursued in line with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to tackle crime and criminality across the country.
The convictions underscore the command’s continued prosecution of drug-related offences, as authorities seek to curb the circulation of illicit substances and address the risks associated with substance abuse in the state.
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