The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has vowed to fish out and deal ruthlessly with producers and distributors of dangerous and damaging illicit hard drug, Crystal Meth (methamphetamine), popularly known as Mkpurummiri in Umuaka community in the Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, South-East Nigeria.

IPOB in a statement issued by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, on Sunday, said its Intelligence Unit has discovered about 10 factories producing Crystal Meth in Umuaka town.

“These drug factories were established by six individuals from the Umuaka Community who returned from South Africa. These drug dealers in South Africa have decided to return their drug business to South-East just to destroy Igbo youths,” Powerful stated.

He said, “These notorious drug dealers who also own some hotels and night clubs in Owerri, Imo State, operate from these hotels to distribute their illicit drugs to other states, like Lagos, Kano, Rivers State, (Igweoch/Port Harcourt), Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and other places in Nigeria.

“The violent crimes going on within Orlu (Local Government Area) in Imo State have nothing to do with the struggle for an independent Biafra 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.

“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. We have the identities of these involved and their accomplices.

“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 said it will not “sit by and watch criminals destroy Igbo youths with illicit drugs just so that you will be called millionaires”.

He said, “IPOB is calling on all well-meaning Igbo sons and daughters to join hands with IPOB to destroy the illicit drug cartel in Alaigbo for our peace and security. IPOB cautions every Igbo person, both old and young, to stop patronising them by stopping the consumption and distribution of Mkpurummiri.

“These criminals that set up the production of these Mkpurummiri are wanted criminals in South Africa who ran down to the South-East to destroy Igbos.

“IPOB volunteers are monitoring them. If you are caught distributing these Mkpurummiri, you will be treated as a criminal and a murderer.”