Lawmakers Seek Govt Intervention As Lunatics Take Over Uyo

The chairman of the House Committee on Health, Nutrition and Food Security and member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, Hon. Moses Essien, has expressed dismay at the social menace and eyesore mentally-deranged persons constitute within Uyo, the state capital and other cities in the state.

LEADERSHIP checks revealed that most of them under the influence of illicit drugs freely disposed at affordable cost by vendors within and around the popular sit-out, Ibom Plaza in the Uyo City Centre, are in the habits of open defecation, violent attacks and other indignities.

“Some have become a big threat to the female folks, robbing and raping them at will. They are also a serious prey to other female  lunatics, raping and impregnating them at will”, a female pub attendant told  LEADERSHIP.

Under a “Matter of Urgent Public Importance” raised by the member representing Uruan State Constituency, Itoro Etim, during plenary held at the Chambers of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Essien, warned against such embarrassing scenario being allowed to deface the state.

Contributing to the motion, Essien expressed concern over what he described as the indiscriminate presence of mentally unstable individuals across the state capital.

Essien, specifically decried the increasing cases of public nudity among the affected persons, noting that such situations tarnish the image of the State and could negatively impact tourism.

He noted that some of the individuals may have been brought into Akwa Ibom from other states, adding that informal interactions often reveal that “many are not indigenes of the state.”

The lawmaker, however, urged the state government, particularly the Ministry of Women Development, to take decisive action by relocating the affected persons and providing appropriate care.

He stressed that “the situation projects a negative image of the State and undermines the ARISE Agenda blueprint of the administration led by Governor Umo Eno.”

Also contributing, the member representing Essien Udim State Constituency, Prince Ukpong Akpabio, called for the establishment of a task force to address the issue and curb the growing trend.

In his ruling, the Speaker of the House,  Hon. (Elder) Udeme Otong, directed the Clerk of the House, Mrs. Nsikak Orok, to communicate with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare to set up a task force to tackle the problem.