AfriPulse
A-kurkura, or simply kurkura as it is called in many parts of Northern Nigeria, is a popular herbal concoction widely used as traditional medicine. It’s believed to cure fever, rheumatism, general body weakness, and many other ailments.
The brownish solution, which has a bitter and acidic taste, is packaged in 100ml bottles. It isn’t swallowed; rather, it’s used as a rinsing and gargling mouthwash for at least two to three minutes before being poured out.
Dr Abba Sagir, a lecturer in the Department of Nigerian Languages at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, notes that the name A-Kurkura, or Kurkura, is derived from the Hausa word kurkurawa, which means rinsing and gargling water in the mouth, especially during ablution or after eating.
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“I think it’s because people use the solution by rinsing and gargling it in their mouths for a few minutes that they gave it the names A-Kurkura or Kurkurawa,” he explained.
How online pharmaceutical products’ adverts endanger lives How to cope with rainy season illnesses Weekend Trust findings revealed that within a minute of rinsing one’s mouth with the liquid, the concoction triggers an immediate body reaction that may result in dizziness, vomiting, nausea, and diarrhoea.
However, these reactions to A-Kurkura usually does not last long.
Many users interviewed claimed that the substance cures haemorrhoids, fatigue, colds, eye problems, and also boosts sexual potency.
‘Why we use it’
36-year-old Musa Kanin Mai Dawa, a welder in Zaria and a self-acclaimed addict of Kurkura, said he uses it seven times a day because it gives him energy and stamina.
“I am already addicted to it, and can’t stop. Every time I rinse my mouth with it, I feel on top of the world, and it makes me feel strong and energetic enough to do my job,” he said.
He added that most youths in workshops use the substance not for medicinal purposes, but for fun and energy.
Weekend Trust findings revealed that A-Kurkura is usually sold in small shops and motor parks, for as low as two hundred naira.
Interestingly, the substance isn’t just used by the male gender, as the female gender also use the substance. Amina Sanda, a widow with four children from Dankal in the Dan Magaji neighbourhood of Zaria, notes she uses the substance to gather enough strength and energy for the kind of work she does, which requires time and effort, helping her keep her daily business running smoothly.
On the flip side of gathering strength for the purpose of being effective at a chore which many use it for, Adamu Garken Haka, a father of twenty-four children, is hooked on this substance solely for sexual purposes. He noted that he uses the substance as an aphrodisiac and finds it helpful in fighting cold and fatigue when needed.
I sell 500 bottles a day — Vendor
Speaking to some vendors in Zaria, they requested anonymity and declined to disclose where they operate. One of them explained that the medicine was originally imported from Ghana and Southern Nigeria, and was initially intended to treat headaches, colds, and fatigue.
He noted that there are many types of the concoction, but two varieties are more popular because of their immediate impact.
According to him, A-Kurkura vendors make a huge profit due to the high patronage.
A dealer in Unguwar Dan Magaji, Zaria, claimed that he sells over five hundred bottles a day, adding that both men and women use it.
Married women hooked too
Findings by our correspondents show that youths, women, and even the elderly use A-Kurkura as a stimulant and for relief from fatigue in some parts of Zaria, Kaduna State.
Drug users often consume the substance in excess, to the point that it has become a substitute for other prohibited narcotic drugs.
The growing use of this substance has raised concerns among many, especially religious leaders. Religious scholars interviewed on the issue emphasised that the use of intoxicants is prohibited in both the Muslim and Christian faiths.
Alkali Dikko Isiyaka Ibrahim, Imam of the Leprosy Juma’at Mosque, a popular Juma’at mosque in Zaria, noted that he once delivered a Friday sermon on how married women are involved in drug abuse, particularly the use of A-Kurkura.
He explained that the sermon was necessitated by the growing involvement of married women in drug abuse and the increasing prevalence of drug use among youths in the community.
Imam Dikko further noted that his experience as a teacher in the married women’s section of an Islamic school gave him insight into the extent of drug abuse among women in the community. He called on husbands to be watchful of their families and closely monitor who their children associate with.
The Imam stressed that Islam forbids any substance that can induce intoxication, even if it is socially accepted.
Similarly, Pastor Dan Ayuba, a senior administrator at the Catholic Church in Wusasa, Zaria, said: “Religion doesn’t allow the use of any substance that causes intoxication, even if it’s to be used for curing sickness.”
Ironically, in Bauchi, the use of A-Kurkura is increasingly spreading among youths of both genders. This new trend is practised openly without caution, even in recreational areas. Cigarette sellers, traditional medicine vendors, and petty traders are among those who commonly sell it.
Rabi Muhammad, a female user, recounts how her elder brother brought her the substance as medicine, and unfortunately, she left it at home, and her little child took it. She noted that the child immediately collapsed and lost consciousness. Noting that it took great effort before he was revived.
Another young woman, Hajiya Murja Dantani, told Weekend Trust that she was introduced to the substance as a remedy for fatigue.
Opinions differ on why youths use it. Some note it’s a medication that cures all ailments, while others claim that it makes them sleep well and wake up feeling refreshed and relaxed.
Awwalu Barde, a young lad, said he learnt to use A-Kurkura from a youth leader who often gave it to them whenever they attended political rallies or other gatherings. He explained that after using it to rinse their mouth, they feel it spread through their bodies, energising their limbs, and removing laziness; thereby keeping them active without getting tired.
However, all the users interviewed insist the substance has no harmful effect but rather refreshes the body and removes fatigue.
Usege among the elderly
Our correspondent reports a growing trend of A-Kurkura usage in Sokoto State, especially amongst elderly people in the community who now seek it out to rinse their mouths with, unlike other intoxicants that were previously known to be used mainly by youths.
One user told our correspondent: “I take A-Kurkura as a treatment for haemorrhoids, and it has never intoxicated me. Whenever I rinse with it for a while, it eases my stomach, I go to the toilet, and I pass waste.
That’s how I use it from time to time. One secret I discovered is that the more you rinse with it, the stronger your body feels.”
He added:; “I usually fill the bottle cap and rinse with it. Sometimes I mix it with other things, but not always. Nowadays, it’s no longer easy to find it everywhere, but we know where to get it. It has become expensive. A bottle sells for a thousand naira, unlike before when it was easily available.”
When asked if A-Kurkura posed any health risks, he said, “I don’t see it that way, because it actually improves my health. I feel stronger when I take it, and my haemorrhoids have reduced significantly. As long as I can get it, I will continue using it.” He noted.
‘I will never take it again’
Even as many are hooked on the substance, some who have tried it say they will indulge in it again. A former user who didn’t want his name mentioned recounted how he was once deceived into using the substance.
“My friend told me that if I wanted a cure for haemorrhoids, I should rinse with it. I tried it, and for over an hour, I didn’t know what I was doing.
“Suddenly, the ground seemed to spin beneath me, and I had to be carried home on a motorcycle. Since then, I have never used it again.”
He explained that he used to sniff snurf, but decided to try A-kuskura to see if it would cure his haemorrhoids, as people claimed.
“I bought it, went home, undressed, and sat in my room. Then I rinsed with it. To cut the story short, I felt a strange sensation from my toes up to my brain, and I lay flat like a corpse. From that day, I returned to sniffing only, and I never tried A-Kurkura again
Medical risks
Weekend Trust’s correspondent in Abuja spoke to a public health specialist, Dr Mairo Mandara, who explained that the original A-Kurkura she knew contained an analgesic meant for reducing toothache. However, available information now shows that it’s being mixed with other psychotropic substances such as marijuana or heroin, which makes users addicted and unable to stop using the solution.
According to Dr Mairo Mandara, the narcotic content can affect the function of the human brain and cause reactions that may gradually result in mental disorder.
“It has even reached the point where some people feel that they cannot live without the substance,” she said. She further explained that the drug causes an immediate reaction because it easily penetrates through blood vessels under the tongue and quickly enters the circulatory system, reaching the brain.
“The blood vessels under the tongue can easily carry substances into your system. That is why doctors sometimes ask patients to put a drug under the tongue. It doesn’t waste time there, because it penetrates through the vessels into the body easily,” she said.
Dr Mandara also urged the public to desist from self-medication, stressing that people should only take drugs prescribed by a doctor, and once the prescribed period is over, they should stop immediately.
“Non-compliance with medication is one of the major reasons for the high incidence of gout in the country. For mothers and fathers, additional side effects can lead to loss of reproductive organs or fertility,” she warned.
She further expressed concern over the increasing rate of drug abuse in the country, especially in the North, saying that if the problem is left unchecked, there is a fear the region may lose its future.
Also, Dr Ayuba Abdulrazaq, a pharmacist at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, described A-Kurkura as an illegal substance, noting that excessive use can damage the liver and kidneys, and may lead to mental problems and kidney failure.
“It’s harmful to the liver and kidneys, and can cause mental problems and kidney failure if used excessively,” he said.
Dr Abdulrazaq urged the relevant authorities to take steps to monitor and restrict the sale of A-Kurkura in order to prevent another health crisis in the country.
Bala Gadanga, a Sokoto State Health Officer, said, “A-Kurkura is poisonous. You know, it comes in liquid and powder form, which people use. They are mixing assorted narcotic plants such as tobacco, marijuana leaves, and other poisonous plants to produce A-kurkura.
“Tha’s why the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) banned it because it’s dangerous. It causes brain damage and kidney damage. It also triggers ulcers, and if a person continues to take it, it can damage their liver or kidneys.”
Another medical expert, Dr Bala Shehu, a medical doctor at Bauchi Specialist Hospital, also warned that A-Kurkura is detrimental to the lives of youths, as it severely affects their mental and physical health, leading to depression, anxiety, and the development of serious illnesses.
He added that “A-Kurkura on many occasions causes people to lose control of themselves, and that can lead to committing crimes or becoming a” He explained.
Dr Shehu advised, “Instead of using such things, youths should focus on refreshing their minds and bodies through appropriate means such as daily exercise, indoor and outdoor sports like football, horse racing, handball, table tennis, among others. Youths can also run, walk, or go to the gym.” He said.
NDLEA warns
The Zaria Area Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nuhu Ahmed, explained that A-Kurkura is a highly stimulating substance consumed to get intoxicated, often leading users to engage in inappropriate behaviour.
“Whenever we come across a substance like A-Kurkura, we send it to our research centre to determine its status. It comes in different forms, so only after completing the tests do we know exactly what it contains and then decide the legal steps to take. For example, if we find cannabis, tramadol, or any other drug prohibited by law, anyone caught mixing it will be prosecuted.”
Ahmed further noted that the law empowers the agency to seize such substances for laboratory analysis
“There has been significant progress because we are vigilant and watching everywhere. Once we receive confidential information that A-Kurkura is being sold in a particular place, our officers immediately move in to stop the harm being done to the community. Our main message to the public is that anything that harms society is forbidden. Whatever the government disapproves of, and religion prohibits, should be avoided, because its consequences are many.”
Similarly, an NDLEA officer in Bauchi, who requested anonymity because he did not have authorisation to speak. He said the Agency considers A-kuskura a dangerous drug due to its impact on health. He explained that investigations are ongoing, with arrests made of those who import, distribute, or sell it.
“Recently, there’s been widespread circulation of this dangerous intoxicant, commonly known as A-Kurkura, and it’s spreading across Northern and Southwestern Nigeria. Because of its potency, it can even lead to sudden death and for those not accustomed to it, intravenous fluids and blood transfusion may be required if they mistakenly consume it.”
He concluded that A-Kurkura is classified as a type of illicit drug under New Psychoactive Substances (NPS).
Produced in the south, used in the North — NDLEA
Speaking to our correspondent, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said investigations conducted since the substance emerged in 2023 showed that A-Kurkura is primarily produced in Ibadan, Oyo State, with Kwara State also identified as a major production hub. He said enforcement operations and arrests show that the substance is often transported from these states to northern states such as Kano, Jigawa, and Kaduna.
According to Babafemi, producers claim A-Kurkura is a traditional remedy, but laboratory tests by the agency found that it’s frequently mixed with psychoactive substances, including cannabis and opium.
He explained that products that do not contain harmful substances are not illegal. However, those adulterated with illicit drugs violate the law, and the agency responds by arresting and prosecuting offenders, as well as shutting down production sites and destroying the equipment used in their manufacture.
Contributions from Ibrahim B. Surajo, Adam Umar, Abuja; Aliyu Babanqarfi, Zaria; Ahmed Mohammed, Bauchi; and Nasiru Bello, Sokoto
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