Residents and traders residing in the Ibafo, Mowe, and Kara communities in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State have voiced their apprehensions about the increasing presence of mentally ill individuals in their neighborhoods.
According to reports gathered by PUNCH Metro, local traders have expressed their concerns regarding mentally ill individuals who can be found lurking in uncompleted buildings, abandoned houses, bridges, stalls, and along roadsides. The presence of these individuals has become a source of worry for the community.
A recent visit to these communities revealed sightings of suspected mentally ill individuals roaming and loitering in the vicinity. This has raised fears among residents that the presence of these individuals might provide an opportunity for malevolent actors to perpetrate harm in society.
One trader, identified as Oluwatomisin, highlighted the disturbance caused by these mentally ill individuals in the streets and marketplace. She recounted an incident where a mentally ill woman harassed her just days ago. The woman had collected trash on a pedestrian bridge, and when someone attempted to clear it, she mistakenly believed Oluwatomisin was responsible. This led to the woman creating chaos by disrupting the market, throwing stones and wood at people, causing pandemonium for over 30 minutes.
Oluwatomisin expressed her frustration, saying, “Assuming we knew where we could take them, we would have done so to prevent them from disturbing us. The government should make provisions for them.”
