Residents of Jere town in Kagarko Local Government Area, Kaduna State, have raised an alarm over the alleged dumping of mentally ill individuals in their community. The locals claim that the individuals are being brought into the area from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Abdulkarim Sulaiman, the Patron of the Jere Emirate Security Committee and Yeriman-Jere, disclosed the situation during a phone interview with Abuja Metro. He stated that intelligence reports indicate the individuals are transported to the community under the cover of darkness and abandoned along roads linking Jere with Kagarko or the Bwari highway.
“From there, some of them wander toward Jere, Kagarko, or Iche communities, causing disruptions. Many of them are aggressive or roam naked. They are predominantly young, both male and female, and this situation is unfair to our community,” Sulaiman explained.
The issue has created tension in the community, with locals expressing frustration over the perceived neglect. Residents report that the presence of these individuals is causing disturbances, including safety concerns.
The allegations come amidst intensified operations by a special joint task force set up by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to remove beggars and mentally ill persons from Abuja. While the task force had stated that beggars unwilling to undergo skill acquisition programs would be repatriated to their states of origin, no clear plan was mentioned for mentally ill individuals.
Efforts to reach Dr. Peter Olumiji, the Secretary of the FCT Command and Control Centre, for comments on the allegations were unsuccessful at the time of this report.
