The Anambra government has taken a former professional tennis champion, Tanya Okpala, seen in a viral video roaming the streets of Awka, into custody for rehabilitation.

Ify Obinabo, Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, confirmed the intervention on Monday.

The commissioner said Ms Okpala was taken to a rehabilitation centre and was already receiving medical attention.

She said that Governor Charles Soludo and his wife, Nonye, had followed the pathetic story of the lady and promised to give her the best medical and psychological support that would return her to normal life.

“Yes, we have taken her to a rehabilitation centre. Her case is a case of drugs and frustration, and from my interactions with her, she understands she is in a mess and wants to come out of it.

“She expressed sadness that she could not give her child the type of care she enjoyed under her own parents. Mr Governor and First Lady are particularly interested in this case and have promised to do anything possible to make her live a normal life again,” she said.

Reacting to the development, the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) expressed delight over the timely intervention of the Anambra government in Ms Okpala’s plight.

Tony Nezianya, NOC spokesman, said Ms Okpala was a tennis champion for many years.

Mr Nezianya described the lady as a national asset who deserved every attention she could get.

Also, Godwin Kienka, the director of International Tennis Academy who tutored Ms Okpala, said she was a promising young star who competed and won competitions in the age group cadre before progressing to the senior level.

Mr Kienka said Okpala and Jacquelyne Okwueze, among others, performed so well that they all got scholarships to study in America. However, she returned to Nigeria around 2007 due to drug-related challenges.

He said efforts were made to normalise the 41-year-old Ms Okpala, but each time she was taken to a rehabilitation centre, she escaped.

(NAN)