Relatives of 29-year-old graduate of Anatomy, Dr. Adedayo Adewumi, have been thrown into confusion following his disappearance.
It was gathered that Adedayo, a first
time visitor to Lagos, went missing on August 27 after he step out of
the house for fresh air.
According to a report by
Adedayo came to Lagos State from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on August
22 and was staying with some family members on Alawode Street, Kilo, in
the Surulere area of the state.
Adedayo was said to have stepped out of
the house on the fateful day for fresh air after a power outage. He was
said to have left the house without his cell phone.
His father, a retired engineer with the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Ademola Adewumi, told our
correspondent that he was worried because the missing man was diagnosed
with schizophrenia in 2006 while studying Medicine at the University of
Ilorin, Kwara State.
Schizophrenia
is defined by the dictionary of Medicine as a mental disorder often
characterised by abnormal social behaviour and failure to recognise what
is real.
According to the dictionary, common
symptoms include false beliefs, unclear or confused thinking, auditory
hallucinations, reduced social engagement and emotional expression, and
lack of motivation. The disorder is thought to mainly affect the ability
to think. People with schizophrenia are likely to have additional
conditions, including major depression and anxiety disorders.
The condition is said to have posed a lot
of challenges to Adedayo when he was a student of Medicine. Unable to
cope with Medicine, he had to change to Anatomy.
His father, Ademola, said, “I suspect he
is wandering around or languishing somewhere by now. We have gone to all
the police stations in our area and beyond. But my major worry is that
if there is a case of accident or wrongful arrest, the police will be
able to tell, but they may overlook a case of a man wandering aimlessly.
“I have his medical records with me. He
has been treated six times for the condition, but always had a relapse.
However, since he graduated in 2012, there had been an improvement. That
was why we suggested a visit to Lagos hoping that the change of
environment will help.”
Adedayo was said to be the eldest of
three boys. His younger brother, Adeshina Adewumi, a banker with a
commercial bank in Lagos, said Adedayo had bouts of depression in the
past, it made him to disconnect from people and to stop using his
phones, adding that there had been an improvement in his condition
following his graduation and the end of the National Youth Service
Corps.
He said, “While in school, he was often
depressed. But when he finished school, his condition improved. Since
then, he has always been in a guided environment.
“Shortly before he came to Lagos, he fell
into depression again and my father suggested that he should come to
Lagos with the hope that the change of environment would lighten him up.
“He did not have any disagreement with
anybody, he was happy to come to Lagos. In fact, a day before he went
missing, he was planning to go with me to Lekki.”
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