KatsinaTimes Interview with Veteran Therapist, Shehu Dandaura Musa
By Zaharaddeen Ishaq Abubakar, Auwal Isah Musa (Katsina Times)
A mental health expert with over four decades of professional practice in the United Kingdom and Nigeria, Shehu Dandaura Musa, has raised concerns over what he described as the growing trends of drug abuse, youth truancy and cases of young women abandoning their homes in parts of Northern Nigeria.
Musa spoke in an exclusive interview with KatsinaTimes, where he attributed most of the behavioural problems confronting families to increasing substance abuse among young people.
He said many of the cases he handles involve boys and girls leaving home under peer influence, often after being introduced to drugs. According to him, a rising number of young women now spend days or even weeks away from home, only to return after exposure to risky environments.
“These patterns are tied to drugs and negative peer groups promising a so-called better life outside the home,” he said. He added that unemployment and prolonged idleness among youths also fuel the problem.
Musa noted that the actual number of youths involved remains unclear due to the absence of reliable data. He explained that professionals only rely on the cases brought to them, making it difficult to estimate the true scale of the issue.
He urged families to seek help promptly when they notice signs of unusual behaviour in children or dependents, stressing that early intervention often prevents deeper social and psychological damage.
“By the time many of them are brought to us, they are already drifting off track. It is better to intervene early before it becomes too late,” he said.
Musa appealed to parents, guardians and community leaders to engage qualified professionals for guidance, counselling or rehabilitation instead of waiting until situations escalate.
