Youths burn homes of suspected drug dealers in Imo

Aggrieved youths have set ablaze the homes of suspected drug dealers in Irete Autonomous Community, Owerri-West LGA of Imo state.

On Thursday, youths in Umuelele village, off Owerri/Onitsha expressway, emptied into the streets.

A source in the community said the youths had issued warnings to illicit drug peddlers, demanding that they leave the community, but that these warnings were ignored.

“Youths’ ire was a cluster of shanties situated behind St. Mary’s Hospital where drug peddlers congregated to dispense narcotics, including the head-popping ‘mkpuru-mmiri,” the source said.

“Despite repeated warnings from the local authorities and community leaders against the proliferation of narcotics, the drug dealers remained adamant, disregarding all of the admonitions.

“It was for this reason that the youths took it upon themselves to take action by incinerating the houses of the drug dealers.”