Nigeria’s anti-narcotics department, NDLEA, has warned on the dangers of taking methamphetamine, popularly known as Mkpurummiri in the southeastern part of Nigeria.

“The Mkpurummiri addiction has no cure anywhere around the world. It causes one to lose senses; it causes weakening of teeth and falling,” NDLEA commander in Ebonyi State, Isa Adoro, said on Thursday.

“I call on stakeholders in the state to join hands with the NDLEA in fighting the menace of drug trafficking and abuse,” Mr Adoro advised.

Speaking on the activities of his command, Mr Adoro said about 196 pinches of Mkpurummiri have been seized from suspected drug dealers in the state from January till date.

“In 2021, from January till date, we have seized 196 pinches of methamphetamines, including the loose quantity, meth soaked with beverage and these bring it to 0.506kgs,” he said.

He said that the seizures were made by the operatives of the agency in various locations in the state, including rural communities.

The commander restated the commitment of the agency to fighting drug trafficking and abuse not only in Ebonyi but in the entire country.

“The command has been working round the clock in spite of security challenges. We have carried out a lot of public enlightenment in schools, churches, mosques and communities on the danger of drug intake.

On dangers associated with the intake of Mkpurummiri, the commander described the drug as “most current dangerous” one to health around the globe.

There have been reports of sweeping addiction to the drug in the South-East. Civil Society Organisations, religious bodies and other stakeholders have ramped up campaign against the abuse of the devastating substance, said to be gaining raving acceptance among the youth.

“To quickly know the person, who is addicted to methamphetamine; he or she will sometimes be picking off hair, peeling fingernails and regular sleepless nights,” Mr Adoro noted.

(NAN)