MARIA FAMAKINWA writes on how men take undue advantage of mentally ill women for selfish purposes.

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A look at the world of the mentally unstable people raises unanswered questions as they roam the streets with some of them trekking long distances heading  to nowhere in particular.

Some of them amuse people with their acts by creating scenes just like the popular saying, ‘that it is enjoyable to watch mad people display crazy acts, but nobody prays to have them as children.’ Not even their families can come out to identify with them. What a pity world of the mad!

 While some mad people are so aggressive in nature that you dare not go close to them, some of them are easygoing, but often display lunatic behaviours. Despite the pitiable condition of the mentally ill, some people still capitalise on their vulnerability to exploit them, owing to the erroneous belief that nature still endows them with unseen power that can automatically transfer fortunes, fames, and positions that could manipulate them to get certain things done.

There is a lot a of myths surrounding the world of mad people across the country. According to the investigation, some believe that once you can persuade them and get the clothes they wear, it is a key to unlocking any door for sure breakthroughs.

That explains why some mad people around are seen wearing clothes different from the ones they used to wear about. Likewise, it is also believe that getting the hair of mentally unstable people brings

success without struggling, little wonder some mad people’s hairs were barbed.

Men rush for mad women

The most agonising of it all is the mad rush to sleep with mad women, which has put some of them in the family way, with no care or support from the unknown perpetrators as these mad women navigate the nine-month journey without ante-natal or any medical care. One will want to ask what kind of money, power or position will make a man go as low as sleeping with a mentally unstable woman, to the extent of impregnating her. This nauseating act is further fueled by the erroneous belief that having carnal knowledge of the mentally-ill women brings wealth, thus subjecting these helpless women to  continuous sexual abuse.

This was the case of a young woman, named Funmi, who used to roam around Oba-Ile and was impregnated two years ago.

Plights of pregnant female lunatics

According to a reliable source who spoke on condition of anonymity, “When Funmi was impregnated, people felt pity for her and prayed for her safe delivery because she did not attend any ante-natal care.

She said: “As God would have it, when people around observed that she was in labour, they rallied round her and she delivered safely in one of the market shops in Oba-Ile. After her delivery, her family came to take her and they have been responsible for her upkeep and that of the baby.

“A year before Funmi was impregnated, another unnamed mad woman who lived very close to Oba-Ile market was also impregnated by yet  unknown man. The mentally unstable woman was very jovial, but suddenly, we observed that she fell sick and was very weak. She could neither eat nor drink anything. People started wondering what could be wrong until we noticed her protruding belly. We asked her who was responsible. But she could not make any coherent statement. When she was strong enough to eat, people gave her food, drinks and money. People around supported her throughout the pregnancy period and when she fell into labour, relevant authorities in the state were informed. They came and assisted her in the delivery of the baby after which they took her and the baby away for proper care.”

The world of the mentally ill

This writer got a hint that there was a particular pregnant mentally ill woman living around FUTA-Ilesha Express road. But on getting to the place, the mentally unstable woman was not there, when she asked people around the area about the mad woman’s whereabout, they became angry and queried: “Why are you asking from us about the movement of a mad woman? Are we here to monitor her or to face our business? Besides, are you her family member? Please go away from here, we don’t want any problem.”

She left and approached two boys selling beside the express road and she asked them about the mad woman and they said, “Though she normally sleeps at that shop (pointing to a nearby shop), but for the past two weeks, we have not been seeing her. Probably, she has relocated to another place.”

Upon further enquiry whether the mad woman is pregnant, they said that she is pregnant and that her pregnancy might have been the reason for her change of location.

She further asked if they knew who was responsible for the pregnancy? They said they did not know because they do not reside in the area, but only come there to sell and go home when they were done. “We heard some people saying that someone used to come at nights with a vehicle to take the mad woman away. But we don’t know how far it is true,” they answered.

Mood swings

Just as the writer was about leaving, she saw another mentally unstable woman standing close to Ife motor park, muting some incoherent words. The writer attempted to ask her some questions, but people around warned her to keep her distance because of the aggressive nature of the woman. When the mad woman appeared to look a bit calm, the writer asked her from a distance, why she was standing at the spot she was? She responded:” I am looking for my mother. She asked me to stay here and I will look for her. People here are wicked, they want to beat me and steal my money. I am looking for my mother. (at that time she was already looking dangerous).

Another mentally unstable man who should be in his early 70s was sighted along Oja-Oba market with the type of office bags men use while going to work. The bald man wore a dirty shirt and dark trouser with an old-fashioned suit. Walking gently along the road but talking audibly. Some people started shouting his name, Prof, Prof (shorten form of Professor), probably he got such appellation by the manner of his dressing.

The writer trailed him from behind and asked him in Yoruba dialect, ‘Prof, erora oo, nibo ni e nlo? Meaning, Prof, well done sir, where are you going to? Se e nlo sibi ise ni? Meaning, are you going to the office? He looked back to see who was asking the questions, and started moving slowly and talking louder in Yoruba dialect, but interpreted in English language, if only I can get to Ilesha, I know that my problem will be solved. Do you want to take me to Ilesha? That is where the solution to my problem is. I need to get to Ilesha,” Prof. kept repeating his desire to go to Ilesha to solve his problem as he continues his journey to no where.

Neuro Psychiatric Specialist, traditionalist weigh in

To get more knowledge about the mentally unstable people,  Weekend Hope spoke with the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Neuro-Psychiatric Specialist Hospital Akure, Dr Sunday Sajo, who explained that mentally unstable people understand romantic love because they are like any other normal human beings with feelings, except that they have mental health issues which are an aspect and integral part of health. “ They have feelings towards the opposite sex, after all, some of our patients are married,” he revealed.

Dr Sajo, however, made it known that some people take advantage of the mentally ill persons vulnerability to exploit them.

He said: “The mad people especially women who roam the streets, sometimes become victims of sexual assault even without their consent.

On whether sleeping with mad women brings wealth, Dr Sajo, said: “there is no scientific theory that says sleeping with mad women brings wealth or power. It is because people are desperate to get wealth and they want to do whatever their herbalists tell them to do. Those engaging in the act of sleeping with mad women should stop it because they can contract infections due to the poor hygiene of mad people which is vice-versa. “

Dr Sajo, therefore, advised the government to protect mentally ill people from predators.

Also, a traditionalist, Mr Jimoh Omole, who revealed that mad peoples’ actions, thoughts and words are in the realms of unseen spirits that are only known to them, said, “anytime you see them laughing, dancing, shouting, talking etc, they are not alone, they are communicating with spirits and demons that control their actions.

“Whatever you see about mad people is highly spiritual and should not be joked with. They are spirits, likewise everything about them. That explains why you see some mad people changing clothes and have their hairs barbed because people are in a mad rush for their clothes and hair. People diabolically collect the clothes they wear and give them another dresses. They also use their finger nails for spiritual purposes because of the belief that mad people operate from the unseen spiritual realm and getting their clothes, hair and finger nails work effectively for unexpected fortunes, power, positions among other things that human beings crave.”

Some men sleep with mad women

The traditionalist said that some men are sleeping with mad women for spiritual purposes.

His words: “No sane man will go and have sexual intercourse with a mad woman without a reason. They are sleeping with them based on the instruction probably given to them as the only condition to get rich, power or position.”

On how they lure mad women before sleeping with them, he revealed, “men sleeping with mad women use diabolical means to achieve their aims in addition to luring them with money and buying foods or drinks for them which they do regularly to familiarise themselves with their targets.

“You can’t be buying things for a mad woman regularly without her not getting to know your face. For instance, if you have been giving money to a mad person regularly, he/she will be coming to you daily to ask for money. That goes to show that they recognise familiar faces. That is how those sleeping with mad women lobby them to have their ways.”