BY VICTOR NWEGEDE
At least, twelve suspected drug peddlers have been arrested in Afikpo South Local Government Area by the men of Ebubeagu Security Outfit, Ebonyi State Command, NATIONAL PANEL gathered.
The Special Security Consultant to Ebonyi State government, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha who made this known to the journalists in Abakakiliki, said, the arrest of the suspects was part of the efforts of the the security outfit at curbing criminal activities within the state.
According to the Security Consultant, the suspects have already been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for interrogation and possible prosecution, noted that the Ebubeagu security outfit bursted and arrested them in their hideouts following a tip off from members of the public.
Chief Emegha further explained that the outfit also recovered several hard drugs including the trending methamphetamine known as' Mkpuru-mmiri' in Igbo dialect, alongside live ammunitions from the suspects during the raid.
"We got the hint that some men of the under world were constituting nuisances around the Afikpo axis and on our investigation it was revealed that the gang deals on hard drugs including the latest one called Mkpurumiri which has been destroying the younger generation. More often than not the users of this mkpurummiri run mad thereby creating more problems for their families and the entire society.
"We arrested and handed them over to the police who has the onus to investigate and try suspects in the court so as to serve as deterrence to others. However, there is a serious manhunt on some of the alleged criminals who managed to escape when the gallant and brilliant men of Ebubeagu invaded their hideout.
"Am sure that when the police will make it's investigation public there will a better understanding of this gang's involvement with live bullets which were in their possession when lucky ran out of them," he said
Emegha who was displeased with the involvement of some youths in crime despite several campaigns re-echoed the call on proper parental upbringing and the need for society to embrace the Igbo culture which abhors get - rich - quick - syndrome stressing that there is no gain in illegal activities.
He however, appreciated the public for volunteering useful information that led to the security breakthrough and assured them of greater surveillance to ensure that there is no place within the state is a safe haven for unscrupulous elements.
