When Street Corners Became a Cry for Help:
By Rhoda Godwin,Yenagoa
For months, the sight of persons living with mental illness roaming the streets of Yenagoa has been more than an issue of public appearance. It has been a reminder of vulnerable people who, in many cases, have nowhere to turn for care, treatment and rehabilitation.
That concern was formally raised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa State Council, during its Congress on June 25, 2026.
Now, the conversation appears to be moving from concern to action.
The Bayelsa State Government has commenced a headcount of persons living with mental illness across Yenagoa metropolis, following a directive by Governor Douye Diri to the Ministry of Women, Children Affairs, Empowerment and Social Development to address the situation.
The development has attracted commendation from the NUJ, which described the exercise as a proactive step in the right direction and evidence that government is responding to concerns raised by citizens.
In a statement signed by the NUJ Bayelsa Chairman, Comrade Tonye Yemoleigha, the Union recalled that the issue of persons with mental illness roaming the streets was captured in the communique issued after its June Congress.
For the journalists, the ongoing exercise should go beyond simply removing vulnerable people from the streets.
It should be about finding them, identifying their needs and connecting them with appropriate care, treatment and rehabilitation.
The headcount could therefore provide government with important information needed to understand the scale of the challenge and develop targeted interventions for affected persons and their families.
Beyond the immediate concern about the streets of Yenagoa, the development also raises a bigger question about how society treats people living with mental illness.
Behind every person seen wandering the streets is a human being who may have a family, a history and circumstances that led to their present condition.
The NUJ believes the intervention can help improve public safety and environmental sanitation while also protecting the welfare and dignity of vulnerable citizens.
The Union commended Governor Diri for acting on the concern and assured the state government of its continued partnership in promoting public health, safety, citizens’ welfare and good governance.
The development also highlights the role of journalism beyond reporting events.
For the NUJ, raising the issue at its Congress was part of its responsibility as the watchdog of society. The government’s response, meanwhile, demonstrates how concerns raised through constructive engagement can translate into public action.
As the headcount continues, many will be watching to see what comes next.
The real measure of success may not simply be how many people are identified or taken off the streets, but how many are eventually connected to compassionate care, rehabilitation and a pathway back to dignity and, where possible, their families and communities.
For Yenagoa, this could be the beginning of a different approach—one that sees mental health not merely as a street nuisance, but as a public health and human welfare issue deserving attention, compassion and sustained government action.
