A man’s theatrical attempt to dodge a food bill by pretending to be mentally unstable came to a crashing halt — courtesy of the infamous ‘area boys’ on Abayi Road in Abia State.
Eyewitnesses at the bustling roadside canteen watched in disbelief as the unidentified man waltzed in confidently and ordered a loaded plate of rice, beans, fried plantain, and meat from a popular food vendor in the area. Not content with just one serving, he polished off a second plate with the same gusto.
But the drama truly began when it was time to pay.
“He just stood up and started walking away,” said Chinyere, the visibly irritated food seller. “When I asked for my money, he told me he didn’t have any. I thought he was joking until he started behaving somehow.”
Within minutes, voices were raised and a small crowd gathered. Cue the arrival of the area boys — a group known for enforcing “street justice” in the absence of formal law.
According to witnesses, the man suddenly launched into a bizarre performance, speaking incoherently, scratching his body like he had ants in his clothes, and twisting his mouth in exaggerated ways. To add to his dramatic flair, he was reportedly wearing mismatched slippers — one blue, one black — perhaps to reinforce his impromptu role as a mentally unwell man.
“He was doing all those crazy things, but we just watched,” said one of the ‘area boys’ who chose to remain anonymous. “Then we gave him small correction — just two slaps. That’s when his madness disappeared.”
As if struck by a miracle, the man snapped out of his supposed delirium, reached into his pocket, and produced ₦4,000 in cash. He paid the vendor promptly, mumbled a few apologies, and disappeared down the road in shame and embarrassment.
Local residents say this isn’t the first time someone has attempted to scam their way out of a food bill, but it may be the last time someone tries the “madman manoeuvre” on Abayi Road.
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