They bemoaned the sad rate at which young Igbo girls were becoming involved in drug use, particularly in the communities, and emphasized that this trend might ruin their youth and future.
The alert was raised in response to a widely shared video showing three young girls being detained by vigilantes in Ifiteduno, Anambra State, for possessing and consuming Mkpuru mmiri.
The girls claimed to be 17, 20, and 21 years old when questioned, and they admitted to consuming the drug within the previous year. They said they were not in school and that they frequently purchase N1,000 worth of the drug every day from a vendor at the well-known Oye Agu intersection in the neighborhood who they called "Onye na way ya."
The Coalition of Southeast Youth Leaders (COSEYL) President General, Goodluck Ibem, expressed dismay at the incident and stated that parents and guardians had a responsibility to protect their children and wards from using harmful substances over the holiday season.
In a joint statement with Okay Nwaoru, the publicity secretary, Ibem pledged to combat the substance in schools, villages, and all throughout Igbo land in order to protect young people from its harmful effects.
"A person's body temperature can spike due to crystal meth or Mkpuru mmiri, which can lead to a passout or even death," he stated. It poses a serious risk to people. In addition, the drug may cause agitation, disorientation, sleeplessness, anxiety, and aggressive behavior.
Users' appearances can drastically change, ranging from rapid aging to dull skin. They may also experience dry mouth, discolored, chipped, or decaying teeth, as well as difficult-to-heal sores and zits.
"Mkpuru mmiri addicts will also experience hallucinations and paranoia." In addition, they could feel as though insects are crawling on or under their skin, and they might consider harming themselves or other people. Nothing about Mkpuru mmiri is positive. Because it destroys the future, most young people avoid it.
"We will target our markets, schools, and every corner of the South East zone with our campaign against Mkpuru mmiri and other dangerous narcotics. We will eradicate this wickedness right away. Governors, community leaders, traditional leaders, and parents from the South East must unite in the fight against Mkpuru mmiri and hard narcotics.