A member of the House of Representatives, Lynda Ikpeazu from Anambra State has raised the alarm on the crystal methamphetamine currently raging in the southeast.

Ms Ikpeazu warned that the meth scourge could turn Nigeria to a zombie nation within 10 years if nothing is done to battle the scourge.

She raised the alarm while contributing to a motion moved by Henry Nwawuba on Thursday.

The lawmaker said 11 years old children in her constituency are also using the highly addictive drug.

It would be recalled that a video surfaced on social media, showing some persons being flogged for using crystal meth. The highly addictive narcotics have become popular in some parts of the country.

Ms Ikpeazu said, “In the next 10 years, if we don’t stop it, we are going to have a zombie society. In my constituency, you will see 11 years old person taking meth. What kind of future are we expecting these youths to have? We are going to have doped up society, zombie society. That is not good for us.”

She questioned why the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have failed to arrest dealers of meth, noting that the sales of meth is not hidden.

She added that there is a need to rehabilitate victims of the drug.

Mr Nwawuba in his motion said the scourge is affecting families and communities in the Southeast.

He noted that the public flogging will not address the issue of addiction.

Following a long debate, the House resolved that NDLEA and other security agencies should launch a ‘ferocious’ raid on laboratories producing meths.

The lawmakers also urged the government to develop a marshall plan on drugs.

IPOB Goes After Sellers and Users

Meanwhile, protectors of South-East Nigeria, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has vowed to deal with anybody caught abusing the drug in the zone.

The group described the development as very strange and completely unacceptable.

In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB blamed security agents for the drugs’ prevalence in the North, vowing not to allow same in the Southeast.

While accusing some security agencies of complicity in the racketeering of the hard drug, the separatist group called on communities to ensure they report those involved in the madness to its office for proper torturing.

The statement partly reads, “We note with utter displeasure, a very ugly and disturbing trend among some youths in Biafra land who have resorted to the consumption of destructive hard drug methamphetamine popularly known as ” Mkpuru Mmiri. This development is very strange and completely unacceptable.

It is this same hard drug that renders Almajiris in the North useless, and we won’t allow this madness to creep in or fester among Biafran youths.

“IPOB hereby declare war against this nonsense. We shall go after those taking or distributing this harmful illicit drug. Henceforth, anyone found peddling, consuming or in anyway involved in the distribution of this illicit drug shall be decisively dealt with.

“Biafran youths are known for their enterprising spirit, entrepreneurship and diligence. IPOB will not allow evil men and unpatriotic elements to ruin or destroy the future of our youths with Mkpuru Mmiri.

“While we commend communities, who have already risen to curb this evil, we solicit useful information about those behind the distribution of this illicit drug so we will teach them in the language they understand.

“Our desire is that Biafra will be one of the best countries in the world and a role model for sister African countries. This is the mindset we want our youths to imbibe, and not the evil infested Nigeria mentality,” Powerful stated.

Also, Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), a police advocacy group, has raised the alarm over growing usage of the substance among youths in the region.

National Coordinator of POCACOV, CSP Ebere Amaraizu, told NAN in Enugu that the dreaded substance was already destroying future and destinies of young minds within the zone.

He said there was need for strong stakeholders and agencies partnership towards resolving the issue of substance and drug abuse especially the dreaded mkpurumiri substance pervading the entire zone.

According to him, young minds involvement in substance and drug abuse is a dangerous trend capable of spelling doom for the future of the society.

“The substance known as mkpurumiri is known to be dangerous and has caused negative health and psychological challenges to some teeming youths that would have contributed their quota to the development of the society.

“There is no reason to justify substance and drug abuse and that of mkpurumiri among our young minds in the country, especially in the South-East.

“There is a need for strong stakeholders and multi-agency approach and support to discourage the dreaded and hydra headed monster before the future of youths who are leaders of tomorrow are devastated and ruined”.

The national coordinator said that the growing trend was unacceptable, adding that the police through the instrumentality of POCACOV is involved in the ongoing community-to-community sensitisation against drug and substance abuse.

In Anambra State, for instance, the drug has become a house hold name in such communities like Obosi, Enugwu Ukwu, Agukwu, Agulu, Okija, Uli, Awka, Nteje, Awkuzu, Umueri, Umudioka and many more.

Reacting on the effect of this drugs on the youths, the Anambra State government described it as alarming.