By: Onyekwere Akym Uche
Narcotic can be defined as a drug or other substance that affects mood or behavior and is consumed for nonmedical purposes, especially one sold illegally. Most of the source used to make narcotics are derived from plants, a cultivation of a plant can be used to make a popular local narcotic. Examples of plants cultivated for the purpose of drugs are plants blended into powder for cocaine, another is plants cultivated, dried and mashed for marijuana. Although, in the United States of America, some states have legalized marijuana under the supervision of their agency. However, in Nigeria marijuana is still an illicit substance.
In Nigeria, due to the economic hardship and betrayal of political leaders which has caused depression, poverty and pain, many people resorted to different types of stress management. Some took into drinking, some become abusive, some become suicidal and some resort to drugs. In South East Nigeria, especially the youths have taken into a particular drug known as Mkpuru Mmiri.
Mkpuru Mmiri which translates to “Seed of Water” is a drug destroying the Igbo youths. Many Igbo communities are currently facing the dangerous effects of methamphetamine nicknamed by the youths as Mkpuru Mmiri. Methamphetamine is a powerful addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system. Methamphetamine affects the brain adversely and rapidly releases dopamine. In a nutshell it poses grave danger to the youths and to our society. The drug itself is reported to be used for recreational activity too such as for sex since it’s medically shown to increase libido.
Origin of Mkpuru Mmiri:
The origin is traced to Japan as far back as 1919, it was reportedly grossly abused during the 2nd World War when it was issued to pilots on a suicidal mission called Kamikaze. In order for the pilots to see it through with their mission which is to sink enemy ships even at the point of Japanese planes shot down, the pilots were to plunge into the enemy ship and sunk it. They needed to take substances to embolden them to complete such heroic task. But after World War II, it was said to have been briefly used as a medication for depression and for controlling obesity. It was however, quickly abandoned and banned thereafter, especially from the 1970s. But it is now produced locally. It was reported that since the 1990s, the production of crystal meth has been hijacked by Mexican drug cartels and they came into Nigeria to set up laboratories in 2016. It is a very addictive stimulant that renders the user hyperactive and prone to destructive tendencies which may include suicide or homicide at the slightest provocation and without a feeling of remorse.
It is disturbing that after what the Igbo race has endured and the survival of life that this epidemic is cutting through the future of the next generation. This drug is known to be poisoning the community and requires proactive executive actions. Take America as a case study, when crack cocaine was a menace in the late 1970s and early 1980s, its targeted market was the minorities mostly African-Americans and Latino-Americans. The America government mostly dominated by Caucasians (White People) were too slow in tackling the epidemic because the Caucasian neighborhood were safe from users and dealers. They ignored the signs of what goes around, comes around. Now in America, they’re posed with the new threat of Opioid Crisis which is affecting mostly the Caucasian neighborhood. My view is, illicit drug must not be discriminated with rather tackled head on with the absolute support of the executive and full machinery of the drug agency.
We have an epidemic and the question is, what the solution is? My recommendation is for National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA to step up their game to combat the menace of narcotic drug such as Mkpuru Mmiri (Methamphetamine). The agency is tasked with the responsibility to combat illicit drugs, prosecute offenders legally and evade the use of Jungle Justice. There are viral videos in the internet showing the illicit drug users or dealers been whipped with canes or metal object over their offences. Some videos show deep bodily cuts, either they’ve been stabbed with knives or machetes. Two wrongs don’t make a right, I strongly advocate for judicial process to take charge when such offence is committed.
Youth empowerment and poverty alleviation should be an integral focus in any meaningful government. The youths are resorting to crime and drugs to evade the reality and degradation of the society. Abia state is no exception to the trials and tribulations that confronts its citizens, the OAU 2023 campaign highlighted programs to aid in ameliorating the sufferings of Abians. We posted our programs in the media via print and online. Also, on our website ( www.onyekwereakymuche,com) under the agendas we posted some months back on our views, factors bordering on our human existence as Abians. I still believe we can deliver our youths and future from this epidemic, it is going to require reforms and pragmatic conducts.
