They’ll continue to roam streets for now – Commissioner
Residents of Warri in Delta State have expressed worry over the increase in the presence of young mentally challenged persons in the nooks and crannies of the community.
Already, many of the mentally sick persons are said to have taken over virtually all the sheds serving as bus stops for commuters in the area.
These bus stops were built by the immediate past administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.
They harass people at will, when they come in contact with you
The recent influx of this category of people into the city has become a source of worry to many residents, who see the development as posing a great danger to them, as many of the lunatics have been known to harass anyone they come in contact with in the area.
The situation is said to have taken a frightening dimension as some of these mentally challenged persons have been accused of storming market places, snatching food and money from traders, passersby and other citizens going about their normal businesses.
It is in light of this recent development that residents in Warri, who are worried about the activities of these lunatics have begun to call on the state government to do act fast about this category of citizens in the state.
A resident, Felix Iyorta, said, “It is a common sight to see lunatics roaming the streets of Delta State, especially Warri where they have taken over all the bus stops built with millions of naira by the Emmanuel Uduaghan government. They harass people at will, when they come in contact with you.
“Warri has been a sort of breeding ground for lunatics, especially young ones, whose influx into this city creates fears in the minds of many residents. They go about harassing people freely on daily basis without any form of restraint. Since most people do not know who they are or where they come from, residents have resorted to defending themselves from these ‘mad’ people.”
A trader at the Effurun Market, near Warri, Mrs. Roseline Ajokpaoghene, in a chat with our correspondent, lamented that the activities of the lunatics roaming the streets freely was affecting business at the market.
“Some of the lunatics always come to our shops and snatch our foodstuff and this has continued to give us a great concern,” Ajokpaoghene said.
Another trader, who identified herself as Miss Okiemute Ajiri, said, “We want to appeal to the state government to come and take all the lunatics to psychiatric home, where they could be cared for, because they are really disturbing us in this market.”
