Kano Arrests Fake Doctor For Allegedly Distributing Unapproved Drugs To Public

The Kano State Government has arrested a suspected fake medical practitioner accused of distributing unapproved drugs to residents and collecting money from them during an unauthorized medical outreach in Panshekara area of Kano.

The arrest was carried out by officials of the Kano State Ministry of Health, the Private Health Institutions Management Agency (PHIMA), the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC), and the Nigeria Police Force following intelligence reports about the suspect’s activities.

According to the Ministry of Health, the suspect, who allegedly came from Nasarawa State, gathered hundreds of people and administered substances into their mouths and eyes without conducting any medical examinations or obtaining the necessary approvals from health authorities.

Officials said the suspect also distributed a green liquid medicine, claiming it could cure more than 100 diseases, while charging members of the public for the product.

The ministry said residents of the area alerted KNCDC and PHIMA about the activities, prompting a joint operation that led to the suspect’s arrest and the seizure of the drugs and other items used in the exercise.

In a statement, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, described the operation as part of the state’s efforts to protect residents from quackery and unsafe medical practices.

He urged residents to remain vigilant and report individuals posing as healthcare workers or conducting suspicious medical activities to the nearest authorities.

The commissioner also called on community and ward leaders to monitor activities within their areas, noting that there are established procedures for the distribution of free medicines and medical assistance through government-approved channels.

He warned that organizing public drug distribution campaigns, whether involving conventional or traditional medicines, without authorization from the Ministry of Health is illegal and punishable under the law.