Nollywood actress and art curator, Chidera Adiele, has cried out for help over her younger brother’s seven-year battle with drug addiction and mental illness
Adiele made the appeal in a video posted on her Instagram page on Tuesday, narrating how her brother’s condition began in 2019 when he gained admission into the University of Lagos and worsened months into his first academic session in 2020.
She said her brother had been in and out of at least seven psychiatric facilities over the years, including New York Psychiatric Hospital in Abeokuta, the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, a private facility identified as Concept One, another in Gbagada, a hospital in Benin, and most recently, the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, also in Yaba.
I’m the first child. I’m tired. I’m so tired of carrying responsibilities that I had no business carrying,” she said.
The actress also accused her parents of failing to take responsibility for her brother’s care, saying she intended to speak further about her family’s circumstances.
“I’m done being the sacrificial lamb. I’m done being the one who has to take care of everybody and nobody cares about me,” she said.
Adiele said her brother had, on occasion, been sighted wandering the streets of Lagos unclothed, with members of the public alerting her whenever he was spotted.
She said her daughter’s safety remained her priority, adding that she had been unable to secure alternative accommodation for her brother due to the cost of rent in Lagos.
“My daughter sleeps in fear because they are still in my house at the moment. I’ve tried to help them get another apartment but apartments, houses are really crazy expensive,” she said.
The actress ended the video with a direct appeal for assistance, saying she had exhausted every option available to her.
“I’ve done what I can do. I’ve carried him everywhere that I can carry him to… I’m tired. Please, I’m drowning. I need help,” she said.
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