For six years now, a mentally unstable man, identified as Ukeme, has been going around major streets in Calabar, Cross River State packing dirts from gutters and streets with his bare hands.
Ukeme, a man, believed to be in his 40s, only murmurs “Thank you Jesus” when spoken to.
An auto mechanic whose workshop is located along Eta-Agbor lane, Mr. Abel Nkeruwe told Punch that Ukeme was by training a panel beater.
Nkeruwe said, “As at 2001, he had completed his training as a professional panel beater. No matter the degree of accident, Ukeme will make attempt to bring the vehicle back to shape. Even in his state, he still works.”
Nkeruwe stated that Ukeme also cleared dirt from the road and drains around the Airport Police Station located along the busy IBB Way, adding that policemen always protected him from public molestation.
Another artisan, Mr. Moses Akpa, attributed Ukeme’s problem to intake of marijuana.
“There was a woman, who felt touched and took him to the psychiatric hospital for rehabilitation but he escaped. He smokes marijuana till date. There was a day I took marijuana from him and he pursued me to collect it back,”
Akpa further said despite Ukeme’s mental state, he still came up with brilliant idea’s whenever he was contacted to give his advice on a damaged vehicles brought for repairs.
