Emmanuel Myam, a 25-year-old popularly known as Emmi Wuks, has stirred intense debate after embarking on an ambitious journey to the United States on a bicycle.

This is not the first time the young adventurer from Benue State has drawn public attention. In 2022, he cycled from Makurdi to Lagos in a quest to meet Nigerian music star Davido. Although he completed the trip in nine days and received praise from many?including Fearless Energy Drink, which he adopted as his official sponsor?he did not get to meet the artist.

Now, his attempt to cycle from Nigeria to the U.S. has sparked widespread reactions online and offline, with many questioning the feasibility and motivation behind the journey.

While some have applauded his courage, others are concerned for his safety?and even his mental health.

One social media user, KengKeng Ati, wrote: ?Some of you urging Emmi Wuks on are leading him to his grave. He should be bundled to the nearest psychiatric hospital. Whatever drugs he might be abusing must be discovered now.?

Another concerned citizen, Peter Abugu, submitted a formal petition to the Nigerian Police. ?Dear Nigeria Police Force, I wish to petition for the arrest of this citizen who has decided to embark on a suicidal mission of riding a manual bike to the United States. Suicide is a criminal offence in Nigeria, and it?s your duty to act preventively,? he wrote, urging immigration officers to intercept him before he leaves the country.

However, support for Emmi Wuks is also growing.

A lawyer and human rights activist, Ibn Madaki, offered a historical perspective:

?When Karl Benz, Henry Ford and others pioneered the automobile, many dismissed it as a noisy toy. When Elon Musk proposed private space exploration, people mocked him. Today, SpaceX launches rockets and carries astronauts. Let us not mock dreamers like Emmi Wuks. Even if his method is unconventional, his courage deserves reflection, not ridicule.?

Another supporter, Iveren Jude-Iorver, simply wrote: ?My prayers are with you. History is about to be made.?

Beyond the spectacle, Emmi Wuks has explained the motive behind his journey. Writing on his social media handles, he said the mission is to raise awareness and support for vulnerable children and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria?particularly in Benue, which has been plagued by terrorism and displacement.

?This is more than a journey?it?s a mission of hope, courage, and resilience,? he declared.

He commenced the journey on Monday from the main gate of Lagos State University of Education, Oto/Ijanikin.

As his journey unfolds, Nigerians?both critics and admirers?are watching closely, eager to see how far this bold dreamer can go. (The Guardian)

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