A’Ibom govt evacuates mentally ill persons from streets

Etim Ekpimah

The Akwa Ibom State government has evacuated mentally ill persons from streets in Uyo, Eket, and Ikot Ekpene into the Psychiatric Hospital in Eket for medical attention.

The mentally ill persons, who were over 100, were apprehended by special taskforce from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.

Youth groups in Eket, comprising Ekid Youth Vanguard for Development (EYVD) and Esit Eket Youths, expressed confidence in the administration of Gov Udom Emmanuel for ridding the streets of lunatic, who were said to be habitually troublesome.

It was learnt that there had been horrors in Akwa Ibom State following mentally sick persons killing men and women and raping girls and women.

On August 15, 2020, one Okon Nya Nyong, 39 was allegedly hacked to death by a lunatic, who is simply identified as Papa.

In Eket a lunatic, whose identity could not be ascertained hacked two persons to death and inflicted serious injury to the other. The mentally ill man was said to have dragged an elderly man who rode the motorbike down and smashed his head with block.

At the premises of Immanuel General Hospital, housing the psychiatry department, the President of EYVD, Samuel Maurice Ekpikot said that the Commissioner for the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr Ini Adiakpan has proven that the governor was careful in selecting his kitchen cabinet.

“What we have witnessed today goes to show that Governor Udom Emmanuel took his time in selecting men and women of sound reasoning for his completion agenda. We thank him for the appointment of Dr Ini Adiakpan as commissioner and wish to pledge our unflinching loyalty to his administration and completion agenda.

“Adiakpan is academically and robustly sound for service towards the development of this state and we commend her foresight in rehabilitating the mentally sick persons in our society. God will surely reward her for putting into action the desire of the governor in making the state a destination for tourists and investors,” he said.

According to the youth leader, the commissioner ensured that the mentally sick persons at the hospital were provided with good food and new clothes while treatment was ongoing.

He added that from findings, Adiakpan has also extended support to the motherless children at various orphanages in the state.

Ekpikot called on the state government to ensure that the programme of ridding the state of lunatic remains a continuous exercise to stem the tides of killing, raping by this group of citizens.