By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Friday said that its intelligence unit has discovered about 10 factories producing dangerous drugs called Crystal Meth, locally known as Mkpurummiri, in Umuaka town, Orlu Province of Imo State.

A statement by the group?s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said that the drug factories were established by six individuals from Umuaka Community who returned from South Africa.

The statement reads In part: ?These drug dealers in South Africa have decided to return their drug business to Alaigbo just to destroy Igbo youths.

?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, (Igweocha/Port Harcourt), the Federal capital territory of Abuja, and other places in Nigeria.

?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.?

It accused government at the federal and state levels as well as the Nigeria security forces of being accomplices to the drug production businesses going on in Imo State.

The statement adds: ?They are either co-owners of these crystal meth (Mkpurumiri) factories, or they are beneficiaries of the proceeds of the drug sales and distribution businesses.

?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.

?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 those 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 called for the return of Biafra businesses and investments, not criminality, destructive and illicit criminal activities like the manufacturing of Mkpurummiri.

It adds: "IPOB will not sit by and watch criminals destroy Igbo youths with illicit drugs just so that you will be called millionaires.

?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 Alaigbo to destroy Umuigbo with the tacit support from the government of Nigeria. IPOB volunteers are monitoring them.

?If you are caught distributing these Mkpurummiri, you will be treated as a criminal and a murderer. We encourage Ndigbo to support IPOB and ESN by providing reliable information of these drug cartels and their channels activities anywhere they operate. We all have a duty to protect our land from those bent on destroying us.?

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