AWKA- Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) has passionately appealed to the state government to declare a state of emergency on crystal meth commonly called Mkpulummili in local parlance in the South-East region of Nigeria.
ASATU made the appeal at a special session of the executive arm of the association at its secretariat complex government house Awka.
The special session which revolved around the terminal consequences and tragedy associated with indulging in the peddling and consumption of Mkpulummili, afforded presidents-general of various communities ample opportunity to share experiences of the damages the illicit drug has done to youths
The special meeting of the ASATU executive arm was also a veritable platform for the community leaders to proffer lasting solutions to the scourge of the deadly substance ravaging young people in the rural areas.
Comrade Bonny Ozo Nkwuaku, the National Liason Officer Anambra-Central senatorial zone and President-General Enugwu-Ukwu community in Njikoka local government area of Anambra state, said no community in Anambra state is spared of the devastating and debilitating effects of Mkpulummili such that addicts don’t live up to two years before they eventually die.
Nkwuaku said Mkpulummili has no cure yet rather it makes the addict become insane and erratic. That the addict goes about raping women and committing all sorts of evils and immoralities. He however suggested that ASATU should be empowered to go after the dealers and peddlers of Mkpulummili in the communities while the police guarantee their confidentiality.
Also the President-General Nkpor Development Union Worldwide, Chief Ogbueshi Emeka Innocent Mbagha said Mkpulummili has made many boys in the area go completely mad because they consumed it. Mbagha said ASATU required the support of the state government to be able to fight the fight against Mkpulummili.
Although he said they don’t support the idea of flogging the suspect but equally informed that people took to flogging as a panacea to momentary madness caused by Mkpulummili. He suggested too that Mkpulummili addicts should be quarantined for them to undergo gradual rehabilitation from insanity.
On the other hand, Chief Coleman Uba, President-General Ichida Progress Union observed that Anambra state is losing its youths to Mkpulummili. Uba, therefore, suggested that a task force comprising all facets of ASATU, the Police, DSS, NDLEA and some others should be set up to frontally tackle the menace.
National Liason Officer ASATU South senatorial zone and President-General Aguluezechukwu Amb. Ikechukwu Okeke explained that there was the need to allow every PG to have jurisdictions to arrest dealers of Mkpulummili in other communities to drastically curtail spread and consumption. Okeke also added that he does not support the idea of recording a video of an Mkpulummili addict being flogged and posted on social media as it portrayed the entire southeast in a very bad light.
The National Community Women leader ASATU Women Wing Lady Franca Nwigbo suggested that the first step to tackling the menace of Mkpulummili was for communities to set up committees to fish out sellers and consumers of Mkpulummili. She also made case for close observance of children for early detection of the influence of Mkpulummili on a child’s behaviours, noting that psychiatric hospital Nawfia is filled with boys and girls mentally deranged as a result taking Mkpulummili.
Furthermore, the National President of ASATU and President-General Eziowele community Chief Barr. Titus Nnabuike Akpudo said if nothing is done in the next year to eradicate the hard substance from communities, many youths may begin to walk the streets stark naked. He said the consumption of the deadly substance is of no value to youths and would bring no development in all ramifications.
According to the national president, ASATU has taken a firm position on the matter; that Mkpulummili is seriously retarding progress and destroying future leaders.