The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared an all-out war on the sale and consumption of ‘mkpuru mmiri,’ a hard drug that many are now reportedly abusing in the Igbo-dominated South-East.
The dangerous substance reportedly flowed in from the North where drug addiction has been rising among youth for years.
Recently, videos of adults being flogged for consuming mkpuru mmiri have been going viral on social media.
Many of the videos were said to have been shot in a community in the Aguta Local Council of Anambra State.
Here 12 things you should know about the dangerous drug:
1. In Igbo language, “Mkpuru mmiri” roughly means “seed of water”.
2. The substance is actually a crystal narcotic hallucinogen medically known as methamphetamine.
3. Mkpuru mmiri’s street name in other countries is “crystal meth”.
4. The substance has a chalk-like crystal form and can sometimes be blue hence the name “mkpuru mmiri”.
5. It is a man-made drug developed during World War II, used by soldiers to stay awake or carry out dangerous missions.
6. Its highly addictive nature makes a chemically similar drug, amphetamine — used to treat Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and narcolepsy, a sleep disorder — highly regulated and only available by prescription.
7. Mkpuru mmiri can cause a spike in body temperature and even lead to death.
8. The substance can also lead to anxiety, confusion, insomnia, mood swings, and violent behaviour.
9. A mkpuru mmiri abuser’s looks can change dramatically, from ageing quickly, to spotting a dull skin.
10. Abusers can also develop hard-to-heal sores and pimples and may have a dry mouth and stained, broken, or rotting teeth.
11. A person addicted to mkpuru mmiri may also become paranoid and start hallucinating.
12. Abusers can also think of hurting themselves or others and may feel as though insects are crawling on or under their skin.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has vowed to track and arrest the spread of mkpuru mmiri.
“The pipelines of such illicit drugs would be shut down and those behind it brought to book,” the NDLEA promised.
The use, abuse and sale of crystal meth is a crime in Nigeria and many other countries.
Via Vanguard Nigeria
