Anambra State Association of Town Unions ASATU has met and strategized on ways to eradicate the trafficking and consumption of methamphetamine popularly called “Mkpulu mmili” and other forms of illicit drugs in communities in the State.

 

The Association frowned at the ugly trend, noting that if drastic measures are not taken to end the scourge, the future of the society will be in danger.

Addressing members of the association at ASATU Hall, Government House Awka, the National President, Barrister Titus Akpudo said the consumption of Mkpulu Mmili has no value but rather impacts negatively on the society.

 

He asked all Presidents General of all the communities to set up a monitoring and enforcement committee that will help the vigilante men to fish out the dealers and users of the drugs and hand them over to NDLEA for prosecution and treatment.

Barrister Akpudo charged them to organize value re-orientation programs in conjunction with the officers of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA to sensitize the youths on the need to shun drugs and discourage communities from taking laws into their hands by enforcing Laws meant to be enforced by agencies of government.

 

The National President, ASATU Women Wing, Lady Franca Nwigbo noted that early detection should serve as a tool to correct the users, calling on women to monitor their wards and to urgently report for rehabilitations to begin once it is discovered that someone is abusing a particular hard drug, and called for a network committee that will trace the dealers from every  their hide outs for easy apprehension.

Lending his voice, the Secretary of ASATU youth wing, Mr Emeka Okoye-Ozor calls for robust public enlightenment on the dangerous effects of “Mkpulu Mmili” by churches, town criers and suggested that the government should declare state of emergency on both the producers and dealers of the product.

 

In their separate speeches, the National Vice President of ASATU, Honourable Ikechukwu Offorkansi and the President General, Nkpor Progressive Union, Chief Emeka Mbagha condemned in totality the flogging of drug users, saying that the best option will be to treat and rehabilitate them.