Psychiatric healthcare worker says depression, trauma and anxiety – as well as other psychological disorders, such as mania and bipolar – can lead to extreme behaviour, even murder.

Mental illness – along with drug abuse and the proliferation of weapons, such as guns and knives – should be a key consideration in family killings.

Abdullahi Bukar, a psychiatric nurse at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s northeastern Borno State, was responding to a police report that confirmed there have been at least three family killings in July alone.

He said depression, trauma and anxiety – as well as other psychological disorders, such as mania and bipolar – could lead to extreme behaviour, even murder.

He has urged the government to increase access to mental healthcare by providing more centres and making treatment affordable for all.

“Mental disorders affect people from all classes, religions and cultures. In Borno State, where there has been more than a decade of conflict and violent displacement, psychological disorders are commonplace.

“It’s time for the stigma, prejudice and discrimination surrounding mental illness to end and for those suffering from psychological disorders, particularly victims of the insurgency, to be given support, as well as easily accessible and affordable treatment.”

Bukar told RNI that extreme behaviour could occur in people who suffered from bipolar disorder, which is characterised by chronically occurring episodes of mania or hypomania alternating with depression and is often misdiagnosed initially.

“Mania is a condition in which a person experiences periods of abnormally elevated, extreme changes in mood or emotions, energy levels or activity levels. It disturbs an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation or behaviour.

“This highly energised level of physical and mental activity is a change from an individual’s normal behaviour and is usually noticeable by others.”

During these episodes, individuals could commit extreme and violent acts, such as murder, he said.

He said treatment involved pharmacotherapy and psychosocial interventions, but mood relapse and incomplete response occurred, particularly with depression.

He urged individuals to go for regular mental health check-ups.

“With the right care, mental disorders and extreme behaviour can be monitored and controlled.”

Bukar said drug abuse – a scourge that is escalating among young people, in particular – also resulted in lowered inhibitions, including risky sexual behaviors, aggression or violence, inappropriate social comments or actions, and other behaviours one might typically avoid.

“The proliferation of weapons, such as guns and knives, contributes to the high rate of violent crimes, including murder.”

The Borno State police command confirmed that there had been at least three family killings in July alone.

Assistant Superintendent Nahum Daso, the public relations officer, said a police sergeant had been arrested in the Moduganari area of Maiduguri, a young man in the Kwaya-Kusar Local Government Area and a 40-year-old woman in the Chibok Local Government Area.

He said the 20-year-old man, identified as Usakahyel Adamu from Kwaya-Kusar, was being investigated for the alleged murder of his 90-yer-old grandfather, Yakubu Ibrahim.

Adamu told police he had suffered an epilepsy seizure. When his grandfather entered his bedroom, they had a fight and he had “lost control”.

“My grandfather was insulting me. When I tried to leave my room, he pushed me back inside. Without even thinking, I picked up a hoe and hit him on his back and head. I was not in my right senses. I did not know what I was doing. I am really sorry.”

Daso said a 40-year-old woman, Lydia Aji, was arrested for allegedly murdering her husband.

Aji, from Kautikari village in the Chibok Local Government Area, allegedly struck her husband with an axe during a fight. He died shortly after the altercation.

The third family killing occurred on Sunday, July 21, when a police officer, Sergeant Sunday Wadzani, allegedly shot and killed his father, a retired assistant superintendent of police, in Maiduguri.

A witness, Isa Ishaya, told RNI said the incident occurred in the street behind the main Borno State police headquarters in the Moduganari area of Maiduguri.

“Sergeant Sunday Wadzani was having a brawl with someone when his father tried to separate them.”

Daso said the sergeant had a heated argument with his father, a retired policeman who was identified as Wadzani Natsiri, during which he allegedly fired an AK-47 rifle multiple times.

He said Wadzani Natsiri was shot three times and died instantly.

Under interrogation, Daso said the sergeant had confessed to being under the influence of alcohol and other hard substances.

A forensic team from the command had taken blood samples and an investigation of homicide had begun.

Daso said thorough investigations were being conducted and once completed the cases would be handed over to the director of public prosecution.

SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO