Drug Abuse: Bayero University lecturer accuses Igbos of supplying codeine syrups in the North

Dr. Bala Muhammad, a Bayero University lecturer attached to the Faculty of Communication, while presenting a paper at the Kano Youth Summit on Peace Advocacy and Development, organised by Hamisu Magaji Foundation, at Mambayya House, on Monday, accused Igbo drug merchants of allegedly supplying codeine syrups into the north.

The Bayero University Lecturer who presented a paper titled “Nexus Between Youth, Drugs, Crime and Insecurity”, wondered why drug abuse was not prevalent in the Southeastern region, but the Igbos supply cough syrup that contains codeine for the consumption of the Northern youth.


Daily Nigerian reported that Dr. Muhammed who concluded by telling the general public to fight the menace themselves within their respective communities and further advised people not to disown the youth engaged in drug abuse, said;

“Our investigation revealed that drug abuse is beyond normal marijuana, cocaine, alcohol, etc. It has moved to the extent that the medicines we take in order to cure our diseases are now being converted into hard drugs.

“We then discovered that it is the handiwork of the Igbo people, who connive with our local people here, to supply the codeine into our region, especially into Kano state.

“There are many instances where Igbo guys were arrested for supplying codeine into Kano and some parts of the North. The cases have been reported in national dailies.

“So, why shouldn’t they take it to their region? Why don’t their youth engage in drug abuse? This is really sad, and we have to rise up to fight this menace,” he lamented.

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This is coming after the Nigerian Senate raised an alarm that the 19 Northern states of the federation were under serious threat due to drug abuse, stating that over three million bottles of codeine syrup were consumed daily in Kano and Jigawa states.