In the words of Okwundu Uchenna Martins, a poet, teacher, public affairs analyst, by 2025, Nigeria, especially the South-East zone will have outrageous number of mad people if nothing is done to check the intake of Mkpulu Mmiri (Meth).
Aligning with the view above, Mkpulu Mmiri intake in the South-East region of Nigeria, is like a time bomb ready to explode at any slightest provocation. This means that South-East region should expect to see greater number of insane people roaming the streets even before the year 2025 if relevant arms of government fail to lead the way in the fight, by coming up with legal backing to ensure those caught dealing in the illicit drug are meant to face the full wrath of the law.
The illicit drug commonly known as Mkpulu Mmiri in Igbo speaking States, but known world over as Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, is a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant mainly used as a recreational drug and less commonly as a second-line treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity.
Methamphetamine was discovered in 1893 and exists as two enantiomers: levo-methamphetamine and dextro-methamphetamine. I won’t bother you with the components and form this substance is taken. The fact remains that Mkpulu Mmiri has taken a toll on some youth in Nigeria especially South-East, destroying destinies, future husbands among others.
While it continues to make terrifying headlines on daily basis, the truth remains that urgent and stiffer actions need be taken to dissuade the youth from continuously and constantly taking this illicit substance that renders those whose heads cannot contain it mad, thereby roaming streets of the South – East naked.
Research and observations in Igboland which is the focus of this article, have shown that Methamphetamine (Mkpulu Mmiri), has made a good number of youth lose focus and direction as they act according to the dictates of the substance.
As Mkpulu Mmiri continues to wreak havoc in South East, it is imperative for leaders, different State Assemblies to come up with a stringent and stiffer motion that will see to the proper punishment of those caught abusing it. The reason for this, is to avert the unpredicted number of youth who are likely to go mad in the coming years if nothing is done.
The State Assemblies and the lawmakers in the region can borrow a clue from the actions of the youth in Anambra and Imo States respectively, and come up with a stringent law to relegate it’s intake to the background. They can as well, make provision for public flogging of those caught taking Mkpulu Mmiri as we have seen youth in Anambra do on social media. There is no doubt that if this is done, the number of youth taking the substance would reduce drastically.
If the South-East leaders rever their youth a lot, then coming up with this kind of punishment to prevent those constantly taking Mkpulu Mmiri should not be an issue to deliberate upon unless they do not have the intuition to decipher the dangers and nuisance youth that take this substance constitute to the society and their families.
There should not be any form of fire brigade approach to this problem as seen in the management and control of issues of this magnitude in the zone in times past.
The legislature, which is the arm of government saddled with the responsibility of enacting laws, should see the illicit intake of Mkpulu Mmiri and the need to stem the tide as a matter of public urgent importance and come up with suiting punishment to free the zone from the grip of Mkpulu Mmiri.
Lawmakers across board should collectively put heads together, come up with a motion, deliberate, give proper legal backing as well as follow up with a view to ensuring enforcement to the fullest. Such motion should apply to those selling this illicit drug. The motion should make provision(s) for adequate punishment for them, after all there is the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, (2004).
The Nigerian attitude of collecting bribe, and allowing these merchants operate should be checked. There shouldn’t be any form of sacred cows in this fight, the barons should be allowed to face the music if caught, no matter whose ox is gored.
South-East and her youth must be rid of illicit drugs like Mkpulu Mmiri. She must lead the war against illicit drugs in order to save the zone and her citizens from this impending embarrassment and danger.
The time to act is now as a stitch in time they say, saves nine.
*Written By Izuchukwu Nwokoma, Journalist and Public Affairs Analyst, nwaokomaizuchukwu@gmail.com (08038207365).
