Five arrested over unauthorised medical outreach in Kano

The Kano State Police Command has warned individuals and organisations against conducting medical outreaches or administering drugs and locally made medicines without approval from relevant authorities, following the arrest of five suspects in Kano.

The command issued the warning in a statement on Wednesday by its spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa.

According to the statement, operatives of the 52 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Challawa, intercepted six male suspects attached to the Brother Paul Legacy Foundation at the ECWA Church located behind the 52 PMF Base in Challawa on Monday.

The police said the suspects, led by 50-year-old Simon Gbaaondo from Karu in Nasarawa State, were allegedly administering unverified and unauthorised locally made medicine to a large crowd of residents from the Panshekara community.

According to the command, the medicine was being distributed free of charge and also offered for sale without clearance from the Kano State Government, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), or other relevant health regulatory agencies.

The police said the activity had earlier generated public complaints and concerns among residents before the intervention of security operatives.

It added that the person who hosted the suspects at the church premises had also been invited to assist with the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the unauthorised medical activity.

The statement said the matter was initially reported at the Panshekara Police Division before being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), where the five suspects are currently undergoing further investigation.

The command warned that individuals and organisations must not administer drugs, locally made medicines or organise medical outreaches without proper authorisation and verification from the relevant authorities.

“Such acts pose serious health and security risks to the public, especially when large crowds are involved,” the statement said.

The police also reaffirmed their commitment to protecting residents and maintaining public order across the state.

“The Kano State Police Command remains committed to ensuring the safety, security and well-being of all residents and will not condone any activity capable of endangering public health or public order,” the statement added.

The command urged members of the public to report any suspicious medical outreaches or distribution of unverified medicines to the nearest police station.