Let me tell you a true life tale of my old friend, Marvis Isaac (name changed to protect his identity).

Marvis was an old friend of mine; we were both classmates in the same primary school, HAMJO Victory Academy, Ada George Road, PHC.

Marvis, like every other class topper was smart, calm and intelligent.

He was a handsome kid with a curly, brownish-black hair that all teachers and fellow pupils admired.

We graduated from primary school and found a new life at different high schools. I lost contact with Marvis and many other fellow pupils, except for a few who lived in the same neighbourhood with me.

Years passed, and I eventually gained admission into Rivers State University of Science and Technology (as was the institution's name back then). Marvis was almost a forgotten personality to me at the time, since it had been a long time we all headed our different ways.

Once, I was walking home after the day's lectures on a fateful day in 2016 when I heard someone called my name.

“Benard, Benard.” (Benard was the name I was widely called back as a pupil in Primary School by the teachers and classmates)

I paused, turned 180° to find a young dude in his early 20s (most probably) running towards me.

“Guy! How far. No vex. Your face dey very familiar, I suppose sabi you from somewhere” I managed to say those words curiously as I was being tormented by the scorching heat of the sun.

“Benard, na me Marvis. Marvis Isaac that year for HAMJO. You don forget.....” He happily uttered those words as I interrupted him.

“Maaaaarvis, my guy! Omor! See as you Don fresh.” I said as I gave him the best handshake I had ever given anyone all my life.

We had a moment of discussion, exchanged contacts and bade farewell afterwards.

Few days later, I walked through same route and bumped into Marvis again. Apparently he lived in that area.

Between 2016 and 2018 (when I got into my final year in school), I occasionally saw Marvis.

We would talk about memories of our primary school days and class mates.

He would walk me to short distances away from my home.

In 2019, I graduated from the University and Marvis went ghosting again.

I would take that route couple of times but would not find him.

“He must have relocated or perhaps be a big boy somewhere else.” I'd always say in my thoughts.

On Tuesday, 24th August, exactly 15 days ago, I was standing by Ada George Road, discussing with a good friend of mine.

Something caught my attention that made me lose focus in the discussion.

My eyes were gazed on a familiar figure approaching our direction from close range.

“This looks like Marvis.” I said these words to myself that they were audible to my friend.

“Which Marvis?” He asked, but got no response from me.

As the figure approached closer and closer, I could recognize Marvis.

But there was something different.

Marvis didn't seem alright.

He wore rags; dirty rags.

His hair was matted with dirt.

His legs were completely white with black patches.

His eyes were red as if been washed in blood.

He was walking in a haphazard pattern, dragging his bare feet on the ground with every confused step he took.

He was mumbling un-voiced words from his mouth.

He was proudly escorted by flies as he walked past us.

He didn't look in my direction.

I was still lost in gaze.

I couldn't call his name. I couldn't greet him. I couldn't hail Marvis my gee!

It was immediately confirmed to me by my friend that Marvis had turned insane.

“He stays in this our area na. This dude don mad oh. How you take know am?” My friend said to me in a rather lackadaisical tone.

I was broken on the inside.

Destroyed mentally that day.

“We last saw just two and a half years ago, and all these have become of this handsome, sweet, cool-headed gentleman?”

It's 15 days now and I'm still in shock, even while typing this.

I can't judge Marvis.

I can't tell the cause of his condition.

I can't tell if he did drugs; or had a mental condition as a result of a head injury; or attacked by his "village people."

Young people out there, this is for you, you have a thousand ways to protect your mental health. Guard it with all you've got.

Help me pray for Marvis as I make moves to reach out to him soon.

EL-Benny Worika
09-09-2021
Agip Estate, Port Harcourt

If him never enter market.. he can still be cured..

Reach out to people that can help..if you can

Drugs should be the number one culprit


The amount of loud and Mali people smoke in Lagos. You'd be wondering if their brain is made of metal.

Then you with your church mind, will just try to taste it once. Just once.

Your engine go knock pata-pata
My advice for young people - never pick up new vices. If playing video games is your vice, stick to it.

Better to quit that vice than to add a new one.

Because that new one you're starting from level 1, and most times level 1 is where all the wrong things happen.

In all, those that were not born are the luckiest,why those that died immediately they were born are the second luckiest..

You'd do well as a writer OP, your story's ending is laced with gloom. Probably there were hints of him tilting towards insanity but was ignored by those close to him till it spiraled out of control. It could have happened as a result of some deliberate action(s) of his, orchestrated by foe or inherited from bloodline. May he find cure!

Mine was my big nephew in 2007

Very handsome fair dude. Baba lived with us until 2004 when he travelled to Ogun state in his own words to go and hustle so my dad gave him some money and we all bade him farewell

Three years later when i was playing football, a mad man walked into our field so we had to pause for him to pass' but there was something about this particular madman he was so familiar so i just kept staring at him. thst was when it clicked.. No be John (not his name) be this. To be sure i wasn't mistaken i hurriedly walked past him and stopped at his front to get a very good look and then i confirmed it again. It was John. My knees almost gave out, i couldn't even go back to the field i just went somewhere to wait for my guys to finish playing so we could all walk home.

When the match ended my friends joined me and we all strolled to our various homes. On getting to my house i met our door wide open, when i went in guess who i saw sleeping on our couch.. Omo the story long eh.

This life just get as e dey

Oh mine, this story is really touching men.
I pray we don’t encounter this in our lifetime even with our enemies. It can be so heartbreaking.

Sad

what a sad story, Just try to reach out to NGO that can help him and if you have enough money to support his treatment that will be great.

This is sad.
A Mad Man is still better than a dead Pwrson. Someday, He will recover from his madness.

result of hard drug prolly

May God heal your friend.He could be a victim of hard drug or hard curse whichever it is God is a specialist in curing them all.

So painful indeed. May God heal him, for there is nothing God cannot do. Prayerfully reach him. Or you can link him to psychiatric homes to help him better, since it seems he is still in his early stage.

How I wish you can locate his family first, then you can start the rehabilitation from there by talking with them on how to go about it..

May God help you in your quest to help him. You sound like a kind-hearted soul and a good friend..

May the forces be with you, pave your ways and guide your paths as you reach out to him...May the light shine on your feet.
You are the perfect definition of a " A friend in need is a friend indeed"

So sad and heartbroken, I wish he gets a solution.
Like the saying goes ''Shame no dy catch mad man, na him family shame dy catch

Someone already concluded that drugs caused his mental illness.


What if Marvis involved himself in some ritual to make quick money and it back fire, what if it was depression, what if Marvis was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

What if someone made Marvis mad.





I always say this, many mentally ill patients that are roaming the streets will be well if they are giving psychiatric treatment.
The Government should do something to help mentally ill patients

May God heal Marvis and send helper his way

Pls, keep us posted on your findings about Marvis if it won't bother you much.

Good hearted fellows like you might want to get involved.

Ok

Taking my time to peruse...

I reserve my comment(s).....


@SENIORWRITER

Sad story, i wish Marvis well and quick recovery, you should have called on him to see if he can converse with you. there is a saying that Mad man get friend.
Be it drugs or not. Say no to drugs

Very pitiful, indeed!
[
May healing by the LORD Jesus Christ, locate him at this very moment!
]
AMEN!!!

Life has many unanswered questions!
Many why?
Many what?
Many what if?
e.t.c

But at the end of men's and beautiful scientific intervention is the power of God.

God's power goes over Marv now, fetches out healing and a cure!

Amen!

Pathetic

Sad.

#Endritualkillings
#Endhumansacrifices
#Enoughisenough


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orTjZE-w2WI

Damn!!! It is well

I can't judge him but I'm thinking maybe he dived into ritual.. you know that's the trendy thing among we guys well.. all is well �

I am not saying he is guilty of all these.
But to those people eating and nacking ashewo and giving excuses like something must kill a man. Know there is fire on your mountain.
To those people who are good at borrowing money up-and-down but deliberately refuse to pay up. One day karma will catch you.
To those pipu saying village pipu does not exist and recklessly and publicly make fun of the village witch doctor. Be careful and beware of invisible arrows.
To those men that love to break womens heart sleep with them, dump them and call it a game, dem no dey write mammy water and witch for face. Just one encounter will make you be on your toes.
To those people who plot evil against the good, the peace loving and the righteous ones in the land. A time will come when your evil plots and plans will backfire

I thought OP wanted to find a solution for his friendship?

Abi why hin carry the matter come Nairaland?