An unwholesome and dangerous trend is blowing across Nigeria at an alarming rate among its youth population – drug and substance abuse.
Though drug and substance abuse is not an entirely new thing, it has now assumed a disturbing trend, which requires serious attention by relevant authorities.
At the beginning, youths’ involvement in illicit drug business was not more than being mere innocent and largely ignorant couriers, who were tricked by barons in the drug business to help them deliver their lethal goods to waiting customers.
Today, however, youths are no longer just engaged in the nefarious business of buying and selling of drugs, but are also neck deep in consumption to the utter consternation and chagrin of concerned, and most times, embarrassed, helpless parents, family members and the society in general. These are the people who bear the consequences of the ensuing wayward lifestyles that have inexorably fueled crime and criminality in Nigeria.
The talk in town just now, especially in the South East, is ‘Mkpuru Mmiri’. Mkpuru Mmiri is Methamphetamine or what is simply referred to as Crystal Meth. Crystal methamphetamine is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It is a kind of synthetic drug with more rapid and lasting effects than amphetamine used illegally as a stimulant. It is said to have similar effects on the nervous system like cocaine.
Mkpuru Mmiri, according to those familiar with it, falls under the drugs referred to as ‘speed’. Speed, of course, is the street name for a wide range of substances that act as stimulants. These substances are said to be popular among teens, young adults and others who use them primarily to allegedly “feel more alert and focused”. Others say they make them “feel high”.
Speed is now being abused in an unrestrained manner, according to reports, in many parts of the country by the youth population.
Recent reports, however, suggest that it has assumed a notorious dimension in the South East. It is perhaps for its popularity that it has been nick-named ‘Mkpuru Mmiri’, which loosely means ‘blocked water’ or ‘ice block’.
Victims of Mkpuru Mmiri are clearly shown to be displaying abnormal behaviours in viral videos coming out of various communities in the region.
The substance has been blamed for the worsening criminal and immoral activities among youths. The ugly development has attracted the attention of well-meaning members of the society in the region. These concerned individuals and state actors are not holding back their call for immediate and far-reaching actions to stop the monster in its tracks.
Last week, governors of the South East affirmed their readiness to fight the scourge of Mkpuru Mmiri. As an assurance of their seriousness to deal with the ill wind, they said all shops and any location engaged in selling hard drugs would be forfeited to the government, adding that all those promoting the trade or indulging in hard drugs would be isolated to face the law.
“The ugly development has attracted the attention of well-meaning members of the society in the region. These concerned individuals and state actors are not holding back their call for immediate and far-reaching actions to stop the monster in its tracks
“
In a statement signed by the Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman, South East Governors’ Forum, David Umahi, after a virtual emergency meeting, the governors said, “We resolved to be very committed in
our fight against hard drugs in our region, especially, the new one called Methamphetamine, locally known in South East as Mkpurumiri.
“We have decided that all shops and locations where any hard drug is sold will be forfeited to the state government and all those promoting the trade or indulging in hard drugs shall be seriously isolated to face the law.”
This, certainly, is a commendable move. And the governors, we suppose, have demonstrated that they are indeed fathers who have the interest of their children at heart and would not spare the rod just to ensure the future of their children is guaranteed and not distorted.
We also note the stance of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, a non-state actor and an unbelievable champion of the fight against the scourge of hard drugs.
Last month, the outlawed group threatened to go after distributors and consumers of the hard drug. IPOB described the development as very strange and completely unacceptable.
In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, while blaming security agents for the drugs’ prevalence in the North, IPOB vowed not to allow the same in the South East. The group called on communities to ensure they report culprits.
“We note with utter displeasure, a very ugly and disturbing trend among some youths in Biafra land who have resorted to the consumption of the destructive hard drug, methamphetamine, popularly known as ‘Mkpuru Mmiri’. This development is very strange and completely unacceptable,” the group said.
Coming from an outlawed group, this simply underscores the gravity of the menace Mkpuru Mmiri has assumed in the region.
Also last month, the House of Representatives told the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to embark on ‘explosive and ferocious’ raids on methamphetamine production laboratories in Nigeria.
The lower chamber also directed the Federal Government to develop a national policy to combat meth and other narcotics across the country.
These were part resolutions following a motion of urgent public importance moved by Henry Nwawuba, APC, Imo, during the plenary.
Nwawuba, in his motion, raised the alarm about the scourge in some South-East states. He said over 70 per cent of the users were suffering from the adverse effect of the drugs.
He alleged that Mexican drug barons had set up production labs in some states in Nigeria, hence, access to the products had been seamless.
“There is a video on social media, where a user beheaded a human being. Some communities have resorted to public flogging to cure the youths and shame them,” he stated.
There is no doubting the fact that the situation at hand is dire and demands urgent action and not lip service. We call on all relevant agencies and stakeholders to quickly wake up and tackle this menace head-on. Already the South East governors, other state and non-state actors have expressed their readiness to stamp out this evil. We, therefore, urge all security agencies, para-military bodies and lawmakers, the National Orientation Agency and other relevant community leaders, to key into this obviously desirable move to save the generation of today from itself.