A middle-aged man is currently in custody after being apprehended by villagers in Ugwuachara, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on suspicion of having sexual relations with a woman with apparent mental illness. The incident reportedly occurred in broad daylight on Sunday evening, sparking outrage and condemnation within the local community.
According to eyewitness accounts gathered from residents of Ugwuachara, the man's alleged actions had been the subject of suspicion for some time. Villagers reported observing a recurring pattern in which the man would pass through the area each evening, followed by the woman with mental illness.
"Every evening, the guy would pass through here, and the mad woman would follow him," one local resident stated. This repeated observation prompted concerned villagers to initiate an investigation, deciding to follow the man to ascertain the nature of his interactions with the woman.
Their suspicions were confirmed, they claim, when they witnessed the man allegedly engaged in sexual activity with the woman. "Only for us to see him on top of the mad woman, having sex with her," the eyewitness reported.
When villagers attempted to intervene and separate the pair, they faced unexpected resistance. "When we tried to separate them, the mad woman became aggressive towards us," the resident explained, highlighting the complexities of the situation.
Following the confrontation, the villagers took the man into custody. "We will hand him over to security operatives to do their job," a resident affirmed, indicating their intention to allow law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation and determine the appropriate course of action.
As of the time of this report, efforts to obtain a statement from the Ebonyi State Police Command regarding the incident have been unsuccessful. The case remains under investigation, and further details are expected to emerge as authorities gather evidence and question the suspect. The incident has raised concerns within the community and sparked discussions about the protection of vulnerable individuals and the importance of addressing the stigma surrounding mental illness.