By Wisdom Nwedene, Abakaliki
There is a growing tension at a popular International Market located in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Capital as a very energetic mad man is said to roaming the market, molesting both old and young women.
9News Nigeria correspondent gathered that the mad man has been at the market sexually harrasing and molesting any woman he can grab at any given moment.
An eyewitness, Onyinyechi Ogah who witnessed the ugly incident and shared it on her Social Media said she was shocked after seeing the dastardly act by the mad man.
According to her, “today I witnessed one of the most heart wrenching scenarios at the Ebonyi State International market (Blue house), where foodstuffs are sold to be precise.”
“A very energetic young mad man attacked an older woman, from my observation, this woman should be in her fifties. He held her by the arm, shook her violently, and would not loose his grip despite the woman’s struggles and shouts from women around. He only let her go when a young man made to attack him with a wooden stool. He stepped back and seemed to derive pleasure from the woman’s fearful experience.”
“The women there then began to narrate to me how mad men roam around freely in the market molesting women whenever they found a victim. One narrated how, about two weeks ago, a mad man held and raped a girl who was about seven years old; she said that while he was at it, people attacked him, hitting him with anything they could find, but he still didn’t let go until he had his fill…guess what, he is still roaming around unchecked, waiting for his next victim.”
” No one knows the kind of emotional and psychological trauma the little girl would be facing now, not to talk of her physiological health. The same mad man was also reported to have also raped a young unsuspecting girl around St. Theresa’s Catholic church Ogoja Road.”
“For the past two months, there has been a very visible presence of mad people in Ebonyi State, and everyday the number seems to be on the rise.”
” Is the State now a dumping ground for the unsound minds evacuated from other neighbouring states?”.
“I ask this because the silence has now been inferred to mean acceptance of this current situation. This has made the public places to become unsafe for the average individual especially women and children going about their daily activities.”
“One question that bugs my mind is, seeing that the international market is well fenced and gated, who lets the mad men in?.”
” The group of young men who go around collecting market dues or taxes are only concerned about the money they get, they turn a blind eye on the insecurity. Why then are you taking money from poor market women when you cannot ensure that they conduct their trade in a safe and sane environment devoid of any form of assault.”
“It’s high time the Government of Ebonyi State takes a decisive stand and address this menace. The State ministry of environment should put in more work to see how to eradicate the disturbing presence of mad men in public places.”
“A stitch in time saves nine. Our people have a saying inferred to mean that one does not throw stones in the market place. This issue should be addressed now, because we might just be saving your wives and daughters, because, dem no dey write big man wife for face, and even if you write am, mad man no fit see am.”
Another eyewitness also lamanted the same thing and cried out to the state government for help.
According to him,”today at Ebonyi state International Market, while I was going from Lot 2 to lot 4 toward that axis that they sales yam, I saw a crowd of people.”
“Some were chanting ” mesieya ike mesieya ike” in excitement. I decided to go close to the crowd to know what’s was actually going on.”
” I saw a very beautiful fair tall lady with mini-skirt putting on a singlet with her nîpple boldly opened. Immediately my eyes just grasped it and I couldnt behold it. “
” She was on the floor crying. I imagined what could make a beautiful lady like her to be wéeping. I was patiently waiting only to see a màdman trying to penetrate the lady in a public. “
“She was helpless as the crowd was cheering the màdman. Her white singlet has stained already as the man tried to squeeze her bréàst. I couldn’t help but to walk away.”
“To this end, I think the Ebonyi state government should set a ministry to oversee the affairs of màd people in the society.”
“They are In numbers in Abakaliki town roaming like a lion. They need rehabilitation and to be cared for and discriminated among the healthy one in the society.”
As at the time of filing this report, efforts by our correspondent to get the reaction of the Ebonyi State government proved abortive as the message sent to the Governor’s Special Assistant on New Media, Mr Leo Ekene Oketa was not replied.
