Opinion

Emmanuel Onwubiko: As Igbos, others battle ‘Mkpuru Mmiri’

The Igbo talking ethnicity of South East of Nigeria have a profoundly metaphysical saying that ‘MBEREDE NYIRI DIKE, MA NA MBEREDE KA EJI AMA DIKE’ that means ‘a factor of sudden prevalence could surpass the may of an important individual however it’s by dealing with sudden problem {that a} sturdy character is decided’. This sensible saying performed out on the Authorities Home in Enugu, the previous Japanese regional capital.
The ‘DIKE’ being mentioned right here is the Enugu State governor Proper Honourable Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who appear to have escalated the advocacy campaigns in opposition to the astronomic rise in drug habit by youth within the South East of Nigeria and significantly the habit to Mpuru Mmiri.

Because the governor of the erstwhile Japanese regional capital, it isn’t surprising that his meticulous resolution to actively companion the federal authorities’s funded anti-hard medicine company –the NDLEA, has made an exceptional assertion. The impacts absolutely would echo in all the different States within the Igbo talking areas of latest Nigeria and past. And since Igbos are world residents, it’s inevitable that the optimistic vibes will ring out loud and clear throughout the World.
What precisely did he do?

The Enugu State governor made a daring assertion that the South East of Nigeria has determined to eradicate the widespread habit by youth of Mpuru Mmiri amongst different variants of addictive substances.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, on Wednesday, handed over 4 automobiles to the Enugu State Command of the Nationwide Drug Legislation Enforcement Company (NDLEA) to assist its operations in furtherance of the frantic efforts of his administration to remove all types of drug abuse and trafficking within the state, in partnership with the company.

Presenting the automobiles to the State Commander of NDLEA, Anietie Idim Bassey, Gov. Ugwuanyi represented by the Secretary to the State Authorities (SSG), Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, stated that the state authorities is decided greater than ever earlier than to make sure that the state particularly and the society on the whole eliminate all types of drug abuse and trafficking.

The governor recounted the harms drug abuse causes younger individuals who take pleasure in it, in addition to the chance such illicit act poses to the long run generations, stressing that the state authorities will stay dedicated to the noble course of eliminating the cankerworm within the society.

Gov. Ugwuanyi added that it was in line with the conclusion of the mandate that he appointed a Particular Assistant (SA) on Medication and Narcotics, for the primary time within the historical past of the state, within the individual of Hon. Chidi Egbuogu.

Declaring that the collaboration between the state authorities and NDLEA is yielding optimistic outcomes, the governor pressured that “these automobiles symbolize the willpower of this administration on this course, and I can guarantee you that we’re ready to do extra”.

Receiving the automobiles, NDLEA State Commander, Bassey, recommended Gov. Ugwuanyi for the donation, stating that the automobiles, that are unbranded, would help their operations as “we are able to now exit with out folks actually understanding the place we go”.

In response to him, “I need to respect His Excellency for offering these automobiles and different interventions. These automobiles are in good circumstances and they’re going to allow us to be very versatile in our operations. We’re grateful. We pray that God Almighty will at all times information him.”
The timing of the aforementioned benevolence of the governor of Enugu State on behalf of the nice folks of Enugu State couldn’t have come at a greater time than now when the social menace of drug habit has constituted the best stumbling block to the financial development of thousands and thousands of hitherto entrepreneurial youths of Igboland.

I stated earlier that the timing of the logistical helps offered to the NDLEA was strategic, it’s because concerning the time of this distinctive donation by governor of Enugu State, the Chief Govt of the NDLEA and a retired Military Basic Mohammed Buba Marwa was asserting a landmark technique to wage battles in opposition to Mpuru Mmiri within the coronary heart of Igboland and different sections of Nigeria.

The Nationwide Drug Legislation Enforcement Company confirmed the resolve to stroll the discuss by establishing a particular activity power working throughout the nation to trace and dismantle drug cartels behind the manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine, popularly referred to as Mkpuru Mmiri, being abused by youths in components of the nation.

Chairman/Chief Govt of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), disclosed this whereas addressing journalists at a press briefing on the Company’s headquarters in Abuja held to mark his first anniversary answerable for the Company, on Monday.

In response to a press release by NDLEA Spokesman, Femi Babafemi, Marwa challenged communities throughout Nigeria to take possession of the conflict in opposition to drug abuse as these in South-East states are doing by standing as much as these participating in abuse and trafficking of illicit medicine.

Marwa was quoted as saying, “In case you take a look at the preponderance of the sellers in medicine, I’m not saying something new however the South-East has the predominance and that’s a reality. Who’re the Boko Haram folks? I do know they don’t seem to be Yoruba and I do know they don’t seem to be folks from Edo, however if you happen to go to the North-West and ask who’re the bandits, I do know they don’t seem to be from Cross River or from Lagos. In case you ask the folks doing the human trafficking, the ladies, you understand from the place. So undoubtedly, now we have the preponderance of the drug sellers from the South-East, however what extra do you’ve; the best efforts by communities to rid the nation and their communities of drug use are from the South-East. Clearly, in the identical South-East, they’re doing two issues; first, they’re telling their fellow travellers who should not respectable that look you’re the only a few who’re spoiling our names right here. Cease it!
“And extra importantly, they’re ridding their communities of drug abuse, they’ve taken the possession of the conflict themselves in opposition to drug abuse particularly the Mkpuru Mmiri. By the best way, now we have arrange a particular activity power to face that problem and really quickly you’ll hear and see the outcomes of our efforts.

“In essence, what I’m saying is that I’m now taking the South-East for example for all the opposite communities in Nigeria. This conflict has to start out from the underside, from the communities; arrange your Conflict in opposition to Drug Abuse, WADA, Committees. In each group, you’re the ones who know these patent medication shops that promote medicine, the mai shayi, these on the nook ends of the streets who promote and hawk medicine, you understand the traffickers and you understand those that use them. Take this conflict to your communities as a result of you understand these folks, cleanse your communities, and take possession of this conflict and the NDLEA will at all times be there to again you up. Nevertheless, the NDLEA doesn’t and won’t assist the flogging of the culprits and among the different human rights abuses. We will probably be there to assist you with counselling and coverings. And I urge all the nation to take an instance of the possession of the conflict in opposition to drug abuse from the South East.”

Marwa attributed the successes recorded within the drug conflict up to now yr to God, assist of the President, Main Basic Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), Nationwide Meeting, Minister of Justice and different stakeholders together with worldwide companions equivalent to UNODC, EU, and overseas governments in addition to native CSOs and NGOs.

He listed the arrest of 12, 306 suspects, together with seven drug barons; conviction of 1, 400 offenders; seizure of over 3.four million kilograms of various medicine; medicine and money price over N130 billion and the counselling and rehabilitation of seven, 761 drug customers as among the achievements recorded in 2021 within the space of operation.

Whereas promising to construct on the inspiration laid in 2021, Marwa stated the Company underneath his management now has a transparent roadmap to the long run.
He stated, “The Company has come a great distance. And there may be nonetheless a protracted solution to go. We now have a transparent imaginative and prescient of the place we’re headed, and there’s a roadmap to that vacation spot. Right this moment, the development in our fortune as an organisation is driving the NDLEA workforce to proceed to push for the attainment of organisational targets and fulfilment of our core mandate of securing our nation in opposition to the drug scourge. All of us imagine within the imaginative and prescient of the brand new NDLEA and we’re dedicated to its mission. Our mandate is to make sure a drug-free Nigeria. We will proceed to play our position in direction of the achievement of that objective.”

That is why waging a end result oriented conflict in opposition to arduous medicine within the South East of Nigeria is vital to the revival of commerce and commerce within the South East. The Chairman of NDLEA is hereby referred to as upon to carry brainstorming classes in Enugu with the Governors of the Igbo states to win the by-in of those political leaders to emulate the exemplary and selfless service that the Enugu State governor has simply rendered to the NDLEA and to Igbo youths on the whole. A effectively deliberate and structured conflict in opposition to drug habit in Nigeria is crucial for plenty of causes.

First, statistically, societies which have made advances within the sciences, Artwork, economic system, agriculture and have turn out to be steady and progressive, have at all times performed issues distinctively to make sure that the most efficient segments of their societies- the youths, are gainfully employed and are busy constructing their capability for financial productiveness.
Additionally Igboland is the business coronary heart of Nigeria and if addictions to arduous medicine should not pushed again, all the nation could undergo. There have been a resurgence of pursuits by writers and researchers on the precise arduous drug that has gained notoriety in some components of the Nation and for which the completely different communities within the South East have on their very own determined to battle it of their distinctively conventional technique of Corporal punishments, naming and shaming to push again on the unprecedented scale of habit to arduous medicine.

Arduous medicine are so referred to as due to their narcotic and psychotropic elements. They’re of difficult nature due to their capability to have an effect on the bodily and psychological well being of individuals. It’s essential to state at this level that narcotics are habit-forming medicine that relieve ache or induce sleep; in extra, they will trigger convulsions or actuate coma. Within the authorized sense, narcotics confer with a category of managed, criminalized medicine that mostly embrace opium, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, in addition to many artificial Medication that even have psychoactive results.’ In Nigeria, the problem of narcotic medicine: arose in Okewu v. FRN and therein, the Supreme Courtroom thus outlined narcotic Drug:

a. As a drug (as opium or morphine) that in average doses dulls the senses
Relieves ache and induces profound sleep however in extra doses causes stupor, coma, and convulsions.

b. A drug (as marijuana or LSD) topic to restriction just like that of addictive narcotic whether or not physiologically addictive and narcotic or not.

c. One thing that soothes relieves or lulls.
Initially, it’s any drug derived from opium or opium-like compounds with potent analgesic results related to each vital alteration of temper and behavior and with potential for dependence and tolerance. Extra not too long ago, any drug, artificial or pure occurring, with impact just like these of opium and opium derivatives together with meperidine, fentanyl, and their derivatives, able to inducing a state of stuporous analgesia are thought of narcotic. Commonest on this class of drug are these taken for nonmedical or leisure functions in any other case termed as road medicine. They comprise of assorted amphetamines, anaesthetics, barbiturates, opiates and psychoactive medicine and lots of are derived from pure assets like crops, (That’s, Papaver somniferum, Hashish sativa, Amanita pantherina, Lophophora williamsii) See the ebook titled: “Drug Legal guidelines Enforcement and Administration in Nigeria” By Inyang E. Ekwo).

One other of the attractive write ups As an illustration was written by a commentator Edith Nkem Declan who penned down the next glorious piece on MKPURU MMIRI. She stated that crystal Methamphetamine or “Mkpuru Mmiri” is an especially potent and addictive stimulant that impacts the central nervous system and a number of other different methods of the physique. This substance has a molecular construction that’s chemically similar to Amphetamine, a drugs used to deal with Consideration Deficit and Hyperactivity Dysfunction, and Narcolepsy, a sleep problem. It resembles glass fragments or shiny, gleaming glass shards with bluish-white boulders. Methamphetamine or Mkpuru Mmiri is taken by smoking, swallowing the tablet type, snorting or sniffing, or by injecting the powder that has been dissolved in water or alcohol.

Globally, this substance has been known as Meth, Trash, Crank, Biker’s Espresso, Tweak, Velocity, Ice, Shards, Range High, Yaba, Chalk, Crystal, Crank or Shabu.

The author additionally stated that contemplating that the drug’s “excessive” comes on and fades in a short time, customers steadily take many doses in a “run and crash” cycle, inflicting them to surrender meals and sleep, whereas persevering with to take the drug each few hours for as much as a number of days.
Mkuru Mmiri/Methamphetamine raises the quantity of dopamine, a pure substance discovered within the mind. Dopamine is liable for bodily motion, motivation, and rewarding conduct reinforcement. The substance or drug’s potential to swiftly launch giant ranges of dopamine within the mind’s reward centres powerfully encourages drug-taking behaviour. This will increase the person’s want to repeatedly repeat the expertise.

This substance as said by Edith Nkem is extremely potent and really low in worth. It may be simply made in small laboratories, with comparatively low-cost over-the-counter components equivalent to pseudoephedrine, which is an ingredient present in widespread chilly medicines.

Similar to different stimulants equivalent to cocaine or amphetamines, utilizing even small quantities of methamphetamine could cause comparable debilitating well being results. A few of these embrace sooner respiration and an elevated irregular coronary heart fee, elevated wakefulness or problem in sleeping, elevated blood strain and temperature, stroke, restlessness, decreased urge for food, and in lots of instances, central nervous system disturbances equivalent to convulsion or seizures.

There may be additionally an elevated threat for contracting infectious illnesses equivalent to hepatitis B and C, and HIV for individuals who inject methamphetamine. These illnesses are transmitted by sharing sharp objects equivalent to needles or drug gear containing blood or physique fluids.

As a consequence of its potential to change judgement, Methamphetamine use can result in dangerous behaviours, equivalent to sexual violence and unprotected intercourse, which additionally will increase threat for an infection.

Research, says Edith Nkem Declan, have proven that HIV causes extra harm to nerve cells, and doubtlessly interferes with a person’s potential to suppose, perceive, study and bear in mind extra cognitive issues. Using mkpuru Mmiri/methamphetamine could hasten the development of HIV/AIDS and its results.

Another long-term results of methamphetamine as said by this deep pondering researcher could embrace critical dental issues, anxiousness, everlasting modifications in mind construction and cognitive perform, habit, excessive weight reduction, reminiscence loss, hallucinations (seeing issues and listening to voices that aren’t actual), and demise. Whereas a few of these modifications to the mind are reversible, others should not. Current research have linked the usage of methamphetamine to Parkinson’s disease- a dysfunction of the nervous system that impacts motion and steadiness.

Because of the impact of this drug on the guts, mind and different important organs, an overdose is handled with an intent to stop a stroke by restoring blood movement to the mind, forestall a coronary heart assault by restoring blood movement to the guts, and by treating affected organs. Well timed intervention is vital to stopping additional harm to the physique, brought on by this substance.

There may be at the moment no authorized therapy for methamphetamine habit. Medicines and different progressive remedies for methamphetamine use, together with vaccinations and noninvasive mind stimulation utilising magnetic fields, are nonetheless being researched and developed.

As with different medicine, the important thing to stopping methamphetamine habit is avoiding utilization. Different approaches equivalent to cognitive-behavioural therapy, which helps people determine, keep away from, and handle occasions which might be prone to set off drug use, and motivational incentives, which make use of vouchers or modest financial rewards to induce sufferers to remain drug-free, will help handle methamphetamine habit. Folks can, and do recuperate from methamphetamine habit if they’ve prepared entry to efficient remedies that deal with the multitude of medical and private issues ensuing from brief or long-term use, the writer concludes.
The results of drug abuse and habit are huge as noticed by a researcher.

Medication are chemical compounds that have an effect on the physique and mind. Completely different medicine can have completely different results. Some results of medication embrace well being penalties which might be long-lasting and everlasting. They will even proceed after an individual has stopped taking the substance.

There are just a few methods an individual can take medicine, together with injection, inhalation and ingestion. The results of the drug on the physique can rely upon how the drug is delivered. For instance, the injection of medication immediately into the bloodstream has a direct impression, whereas ingestion has a delayed impact. However all misused medicine have an effect on the mind. They trigger giant quantities of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate our feelings, motivation and emotions of delight, to flood the mind and produce a “excessive.” Ultimately, medicine can change how the mind works and intervene with an individual’s potential to make decisions, resulting in intense cravings and compulsive drug use. Over time, this conduct can flip right into a substance dependency, or drug habit.

Right this moment, greater than 7 million folks undergo from a bootleg drug dysfunction, and one in 4 deaths outcomes from illicit drug use. The truth is, extra deaths, diseases and disabilities are related to drug abuse than another preventable well being situation. Folks affected by drug and alcohol habit even have the next threat of unintentional accidents, accidents and home violence incidents. (gatewayfoundation.org).

All these signpost the optimistic physique of contributions made by the Enugu State governor and it’s the expectation of Nigerians that ERADICATING DRUG ADDICTIONS AMONGST YOUTHS SHOULD BE MADE A NUMBER ONE OBLIGATIONS OF ALL AND SUNDRY.

EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO is head of the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) and was federal commissioner of the NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA.

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