By Onuchukwu Hamilton
Following the rising cases of illicit drug peddling and the dearth of operational vehicles hampering the professional efforts of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in halting the menace in Imo State, a popular group of Stakeholders drawn from Imo communities, families, religious bodies and various schools known as the Imo Good Governance Ambassadors ( IGGA), has humbly called on the Government of Imo State , under Governor, Hope Uzodimma to kindly assist the Imo State Drug Law Enforcement Agency Command Owerri ,( NDLEA) with operational vehicles and logistics to raid the peddlers and their Syndicates for prosecution.
In a strongly worded Press Release, availed to newsmen last Friday, the group ( IGGA) President Dr. Nwachukwu Bonaventure stated that the issue of hard drug peddling in Imo, has become a national teething matter that must be quickly addressed with the necessary enforcement facilities and programs. Dr. Nwachukwu cited a publicized trailer load of Indian hemp which the officers of the Imo State Police Command Owerri, intercepted few days ago, as one of the proves that illicit hard drug peddling is a night mare in Imo .
The release as issued by IGGA further revealed that 7o percent of Imo communities like the major communities in Orlu, Ohaji Egbema, Obrinze in Owerri West, Ikeduru, Okigwe zone have become production and selling targets for methamphetamine which is known and popularly called mkpurummiru in Igbo language. He warned that the prevalence of mkpurummiri in Imo Communities, is very high and serve as a major nefarious crime motivator in Imo State as, its storage , sales and distribution within and outside Imo Communities has adversely impacted youths, and parents between the ages of 13 and 58, straining family structures and contributing to rising crimes.
When journalists embarked on investigation to ascertain the challenges or bottlenecks inhibiting operations that should ensure the arrest and prosecution of drug peddling syndicates in Imo. The Imo State NDLEA Commander, CN Nnyigide Alexander told Journalists that the NDLEA has galant officers that are well trained and working assiduously to arrest and prosecute the illicit drug peddling suspects. He noted that drug trafficking is an organized criminal activity that undermines the security and development of the state, therefore demands urgent attention and priority from both the government and community stake holders. He further explains that NDLEA officers have a mandate to crackdown on the manufacturing labs and to lockdown their trafficking networks within Imo State but the operational vehicles to always penetrate these rural areas, is their biggest challenge.
Meanwhile, concerned Imo elites, have called for a good sister relationship between the police and the NDLEA as to ensure that illicit drug traffickers arrested by the Police officers, are immediately handed over to NDLEA for prosecution.
