Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State in partnership with the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar has rescued a mad couple and their three children in Ogoja.
A team from the Cross River State Government and Federal Neuro Psychiatric hospital, Calabar came to the rescue of Mr. & Mrs. Ben Ogar and their three children.
The wife revealed that the husband lost his means of livelihood six years ago while in Abuja with their two kids, and what followed was a mental disorder which led them to relocate to their country home in Ogoja, Cross River State where they opted to stay in a shanty rather than his father’s house.
We gathered that Mr. Ben’s family rescued his first set of kids from him when he started showing signs of this disorder, and six years of roaming the streets of Ogoja produced the three kids he was rescued with.
Doctors confirmed that Mr. Ben is suffering from a mental disorder, while his wife is only having the ‘folie a deux’ syndrome as a result of her husband’s ideation. The children, two girls and a boy, are in very stable condition and are responding to treatment very well.
The Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Inyang Asibong, said the erstwhile mentally deranged family are in stable condition and are responding well to treatment. The family will be rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society with continuous medical care and social welfare, she concluded.
Meanwhile the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs in the State, Mrs. Stella Odey, highlighted that the family are also being offered some psycho-social support in addition to the Medical Care already being provided by the State Government. While her counterpart from the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Social Welfare, Mr. Oliver Orok, noted that the State Government had already provided feeding and accommodation to the couple with adequate medical scare.
The Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Health, Dr. Joseph Bassey, asserted that the State Government are partnering with Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital to ensure the family receive all the medical services they require.
According to Progress Oberiko, a National Youth Service Corps member who unravelled the mad family via her Facebook page, said; “Yesterday 22/10/2018, doctors, nurses and social workers from the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Calabar arrived Ogoja and together we went on a rescue mission.”
“After contacting the notable clan head of the village, Ukpah in Bekwarra LGA including the elder sister to the ‘special man’, the man and his wife were chemically constrained by the specialists with the help of some villagers and conveyed in their official bus with their children to the hospital in Calabar…”
Excited Progress Oberiko added via her Facebook; “The way this story spread like wild fire amazes me till date. In a twinkle of an eye it went viral. And this shows how concerned Nigerians are about one another. I was contacted by Nigerians in diaspora seeking how they could be of help to this family but unfortunately this family was not in material need. Nigerians are loving.”
“I sincerely want to appreciate individuals, NGOs and regular folks too numerous to mention who were on the move for intervention, those who went on their knees to pray, God never sleeps! I’m grateful. Las Las the Federal government has intervened, they have come to rescue.”
“I visited the Federal Neuro Psychiatric hospital in Calabar, contacted the CMD Dr Joe Okegbe who informed me of their intended visit to Ogoja as instructed by the Federal Ministry of Health.”
“Yesterday 22/10/2018, Doctors, Nurses and Social workers from the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital in Calabar arrived Ogoja and together we went on a rescue mission.”
“After contacting the notable clan head of the village (Ukpah, Bekwarra Lga) including the elder sister to the ‘special man’, the man and his wife were chemically constrained by the specialists with the help of some villagers and conveyed in their official bus together with their children to the hospital in Calabar.”
“Even in his sedated condition he still guarded his children with his last strength as he staggered and they too wailing for their parents didn’t let go, they rather stuck with their parents. See the kids, see how cute they look, I didn’t know whether to join them in crying as they cried for their parents or to be happy for their rescue.”
Yesterday I saw Nollyhood in reality. So touching. The villagers were happy for them but they weren’t for themselves. So as it is, the #ONE_BIG_FAMILY is off the streets of Ogoja/Bekwarra to get immediate attention and care.”
“Whether you say they’re mad or not, whatever the case may be, good news is they have gotten attention, attention from the Federal Government of Nigeria. This shows that we care for our fellow humans. And this attention will lead to their liberation cos I believe that anything that has a beginning surely has an end.”
“For those who were meaning to send money and stuff to the family, you probably can send to the appropriate authorities now. For those who can pray, I enjoin you to go down on your knees and pray for this family.”
“Thanks to y’all Nigerians who made this post go far, thanks to the Federal Neuro Psychiatric hospital, Calabar, and Special thanks to the Federal Government who intervened at this very appropriate time. God bless y’all.”