The puzzling issue of mental instability among young girls in Nigeria

By Matthew Ma

It is rare to see someone who accepts being a father, mother, brother, sister, cousin, nephew, wife, or child of these young girls, except when she is knocked down by vehicles or is used for rituals. Then, you see people coming out to claim ownership, mainly because the driver or the unsuccessful ritualist could pay money in case of death. We see and hear of psychiatric hospitals built everywhere around us while a bunch of young girls parade our streets. These people are often treated as if they are not Nigerians.
“The issue of mental instability among young girls in Nigeria has become a pressing concern that requires immediate attention. The root causes of this phenomenon are complex and multifaceted, including poverty, lack of education, and social and cultural factors. In addition, the lavish lifestyles of wealthy individuals, ostentatious displays of wealth by music stars and religious leaders, and the dazzling lyrics contained in music by some idols all contribute to this issue. Furthermore, prosperity preaching by religious leaders and the notion that God can make one a millionaire overnight exacerbate the problem. Nollywood films also frequently promote these messages, and parental control in many homes has been found to be lacking.”
A concerning trend has emerged in Nigeria, where a significant number of young girls are experiencing unexplained psychosis. Videos are circulating online about nude young women roaming around the streets in Nigeria. In one of the videos, the young woman was begging for help from the crowd. It was shocking to see how many people ignored her. I was eager to see someone call the police, but instead, people were busy recording and taking pictures of her. A disturbing event was recorded on camera in the prominent city of Abeokuta, located in Ogun State. The video displays a young woman exhibiting erratic behavior, ultimately leading to her removing her clothes and behaving like a dog. Speculation circulated that cybercriminals may have leveraged the girl for money-related rituals. Despite the video’s extensive distribution, the woman’s identity is still unconfirmed.

At an event hosted by the Rotary Club of Agege for Peace & Conflict Resolution and Prevention Month, CSP Adekunle Frederick Ajisebutu, the Police Public Relations Officer, addressed the concerning rise in mental health issues among young women in Lagos. He attributed this trend to the uncontrolled abuse of dangerous drugs, including the mixing of highly potent drugs with marijuana. Ajisebutu also noted that neglectful parenting and failure to educate and monitor children against negative influences are contributing factors. Additionally, he highlighted the dangerous rituals young people engage in to obtain wealth. In his role as an Operation Officer for the anti-cultism unit of Lagos State Police Command, Ajisebutu discovered that nearly 60% of young people in Lagos State are living extravagant lifestyles with expensive cars. According to a 2018 study conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 25% of drug users in Nigeria are women. It is not uncommon to come across young and vibrant Nigerian women who consume drugs, alcohol, smoke, or drink in local hangouts, event centers, rave parties, clubhouses, and other unfamiliar places. Unfortunately, some young women who prioritize wealth and living on the edge tend to frequent these locations despite the potential risks to their safety. Despite warnings about the potential dangers of unfamiliar environments and unknown individuals, some women choose to engage in risky behaviors that may jeopardize their well-being. Unfortunately, a recent incident involved a young woman who was dropped off by a group of boys and began exhibiting strange behavior. She seemed to have lost touch with reality and was unable to recognize her surroundings or her hotel. Despite efforts by concerned individuals to assist her in returning home, their attempts were unsuccessful. The woman was asked to sit down but had difficulty complying, leading some to speculate that she may have been drugged. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred, and it highlights the need for increased vigilance and safety measures.
What could be the reason behind the higher prevalence of mental illness among women compared to men? Is the “Yahoo boy” phenomenon just a red herring, diverting attention away from the real issue of increasing mental health problems in young women? Some experts suggest that the root cause of the problem is drug abuse, with substances like cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine, heroin, diazepam, codeine, cough syrup, and tramadol being commonly used. These drugs are obtained from various sources, including pharmacies, drug markets, hawkers, friends, and dealers. It is believed that young women use drugs to enhance their physical performance and for recreational purposes. Shockingly, in some Nigerian states, it is estimated that nearly all young women between the ages of 15 and 30 have experimented with illicit drugs at some point in their lives. Among young boys, there is a more significant gender difference in overall drug use, but this gap seems to be growing among young women. However, when it comes to more severe and problematic drug use, the difference between women and men is significant. In fact, women account for around a quarter of all individuals with severe illicit drug problems. Some studies suggest that women are more likely to seek treatment due to stigma or reluctance to seek care. However, other studies indicate that women are less likely to seek specialized services than men due to the dual stigma attached to both drug use in general and being a woman with a substance use problem. Further research is necessary to determine the extent and nature of the treatment gap in various regions and sub-groups in Nigeria.
African philosophy of hard work permeates the lives of African people. African youths who understand this philosophy will not be lazy but will be proactive in their various endeavors and pursuit of a better life. Most Nigerian are not lazy because they engage in a variety of work in order to make money. Becoming rich at a young age is not evil, but the source of the wealth is what matters. Recently, there have been cases of such fetish practices by youths in various parts of Nigeria. In Imo State, news broke about a young man who his mother visited in a hostel. The poor woman, who was probably coming to see his son, who (maybe) was in school, bought fruits to be presented to him, but he ended up attempting to kill her for a money ritual. Also, in Ogun State, the news of the killing of a girl, identified as Rofiat, by her boyfriend and his friends is still fresh. The case of Rofiat was pathetic because she did not survive. The teenagers had cut her head off and were roasting in a clay pot when the police apprehended them. In Imo, another incident, which has been dismissed as a comedy skit, has still not convincingly been erased from the memories of the people, as some youths sat in a famous roundabout in Owerri, excreting and using bread to dip in it as sauce before eating.

Rev. Ma, S.J, is a Jesuit Catholic priest and PhD candidate in public and social policy at St. Louis University in the state of Missouri, USA.