The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has ordered the immediate shutdown of 10 factories producing Crystal Meth, locally known as Mkpurummiri, in Umuaka town, Orlu Province of Imo State.
In a press statement released on Friday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB revealed that these drug factories were established by six individuals who had returned to Nigeria from South Africa.
According to IPOB, these notorious drug dealers have moved their illegal drug trade back to the South East with the intent to “destroy Igbo youths” through the production and distribution of Mkpurummiri.
“These drug dealers in South Africa have decided to return their drug business to Alaigbo just to destroy Igbo youths,” the statement read.
IPOB accused the six individuals of also owning hotels and nightclubs in Owerri, Imo State, which they use as fronts to distribute their illicit drugs to other states in Nigeria, including Lagos, Kano, Rivers (Igweocha/Port Harcourt), Abuja, and beyond.
The statement emphasized that while some of these drug dealers claim to be part of the Biafra movement, they are, in reality, violent drug merchants only interested in profiting from the destruction of their own people.
“The violent crimes going on within Orlu Province in Imo State have nothing to do with the struggle for an independent Biafran Nation. Some of these drug-dealing criminals claim to be agitating for the freedom of Biafra, while in reality, they are simply violent drug merchants,” IPOB said.
IPOB went on to accuse both the federal and state governments, as well as Nigerian security forces, of being complicit in the operations of these drug factories.
The group suggested that there is no way such drug production could take place in an over-militarized zone like Orlu without the knowledge or involvement of the authorities.
“There is no way that an over-militarized zone like Orlu, Imo State will have about 10 factories producing and distributing crystal meth (Mkpurummiri) without the knowledge and protection from the Nigerian and Imo State Governments and her Security Agencies,” the statement added.
IPOB warned the drug dealers to immediately cease their operations, threatening to expose their identities if they failed to comply.
“By this press release, IPOB is giving notice to those involved in the manufacture and distribution of Mkpurummiri in Orlu and their kinds anywhere else in Alaigbo to shut down their operations immediately,” IPOB declared.
The group claimed to have full knowledge of the identities of those involved and threatened to take drastic measures if the illicit activities were not halted.
“If you fail to adhere to this warning, IPOB will not only make your identities public but will also take every measure to ensure that your illicit drug business is terminated,” IPOB warned.
IPOB made it clear that the Southeast region, known as Alaigbo, should be a hub for legitimate businesses and investments, not criminal activities that harm the community.
The group declared that it would not allow criminals to destroy the future of Igbo youths with illicit drugs under the guise of becoming millionaires.
“IPOB will not sit by and watch criminals destroy Igbo youths with illicit drugs just so that you will be called millionaires,” the statement continued.
The separatist group also called on all well-meaning Igbo sons and daughters to join hands with IPOB in the fight against drug cartels and to preserve the peace and security of Alaigbo.
IPOB urged the people of the Southeast to stop patronizing the drug dealers and to end the consumption and distribution of Mkpurummiri.
“IPOB cautions every Igbo person, both old and young, to stop patronising them by stopping the consumption and distribution of Mkpurummiri,” IPOB stated.
The group went further to reveal that these drug dealers are wanted criminals in South Africa, who fled to the Southeast to continue their criminal activities with the support of the Nigerian government.
“These criminals that set up the production of these Mkpurummiri are wanted criminals in South Africa who ran down to Alaigbo to destroy Umuigbo with the tacit support from the government of Nigeria,” the statement read.
IPOB assured the public that its volunteer force, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), is actively monitoring these criminal elements and their drug operations.
The group issued a strong warning to anyone involved in distributing Mkpurummiri, stating that they would be treated as criminals and murderers.
“If you are caught distributing these Mkpurummiri, you will be treated as a criminal and a murderer,” the group warned.
IPOB called on Ndigbo, the people of Igbo land, to provide reliable information on the activities of these drug cartels so that they could be stopped.
“We encourage Ndigbo to support IPOB and ESN by providing reliable information of these drug cartels and their channels of activities anywhere they operate,” the statement added.
IPOB emphasized that every Igbo person has a duty to protect the land from those who seek to destroy it through criminal activities such as drug production and distribution.
The group’s stance on illicit drugs comes amid growing concerns over the rise of Mkpurummiri use among youths in the Southeast, particularly in Imo State.
Crystal Meth, or Mkpurummiri, has become a major problem in recent years, with many communities grappling with the devastating effects of addiction and related crimes.
Families, traditional rulers, and community leaders have repeatedly called for urgent action to stop the spread of the drug, which has been linked to increased cases of violence and mental health issues.
The announcement of a crackdown on drug factories in Imo State is just the latest in a series of actions by IPOB aimed at curbing criminality in the region.
While IPOB remains a controversial organization, particularly due to its confrontations with Nigerian security forces, its efforts to tackle the growing drug menace have garnered support from some quarters in the region.
