Prime 9ja Online dey report say one official from Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Abuja, say person wey dem rescue from suspected suicide attempt on Monday fit face up to one year in jail if dem prosecute am successfully.
Peter Olumuji, Secretary of Command and Control Centre of Security Department of FCTA, cite section 231 of Penal Code Act to back im claim. Mr Olumuji, wey appear as guest on Channels Television's Sunrise Daily, say attempted suicide survivor, Shuaibu Yushau, still dey police custody.
"Why im dey with police? After rescue, emergency services do their normal procedures on am, and you know say under Penal Code, section 231, anybody wey attempt suicide dey liable to punishment of one year," official say during television programme wey our reporter monitor.
Police say in statement on Monday say dem get distress call from concerned Nigerians, wey prompt dem to mobilize their operatives to location to arrest Mr Yushau. Channels TV report say man threaten to sacrifice im life for solution to country's dire economic situation.
Note wey Mr Shuaibu write and leave on ground before climbing mast, make various demands, wey include restoring fuel subsidies and declaring emergency in some northern states facing insecurity.
Attempted suicide na criminal act under criminal federal laws. Both Penal Code applicable in North and Criminal Code Act applicable in South regard attempted suicide as misdemeanour.
Section 231 of Penal Code state say: "Whoever attempts to commit suicide and does any act towards commission of such offence, shall be punished with imprisonment for term wey may extend to one year or with fine or with both."
Similarly, section 327 of Criminal Code state say: "Any person wey attempt to kill himself is guilty of misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for one year."
Mr Olumuji, wey dey at scene of incident, report say Mr Yushau only climb down from mast after hours of pleading with im. He disclose say Mr Yushau claim say im go into premises for interview without anybody suspecting im intentions of attempted suicide.
Mr Olumuji say thorough investigation dey underway to determine how Mr Yushau fit access mast without detection by security operatives. Prime 9ja Online report say Mr Yushau claim say im observe mast for about one week before climbing am on Monday.
 |
| Shuaibu Alhaji Yushau wey try kill himself |
He claim say im suicide serve as act of protest against socio-economic hardship wey dey plague country. He pen down im conditions to government in im suicide note, claiming say im don tire of hardship in country.
Spokesperson for FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, confirm say Mr Yushau dey stable condition in police custody. Concerns over criminalising attempted suicide however, consultant psychiatrist and professor, Owoidoho Udofia, wey also appear as guest on Channels Television alongside Mr Olumuji, raise concerns over Mr Yushau's ongoing detention by police.
He say survivor suppose dey receive medical attention instead of detaining im. He also say laws criminalising attempted suicide dey barbaric and suppose be revisited. Reacting to Mr Udofia's concerns, Mr Olumuji say social development secretariat of FCT dey carry out medical checkups on survivor.
He also state say police get medical facility. However, Mr Udofia question adequacy of police clinic in handling cases of attempted suicide. He advise say man wey fit climb mast as high as 120 feet and remain there for hours need thorough professional medical examination.
But Mr Olumuji insist say Mr Yushau no dey behind bars and assure say police dey handle case professionally. Prime 9ja Online report in October 2023 say civil society group, Nigerian Mental Health, call on government to repeal laws penalising citizens caught trying to take their own lives.
Assessing survivor's mental well-being, Mr Udofia describe Mr Yushau as mentally fit, judging from im suicide note. He argue say nothing on suicide note connotate mental illness. But he say, "for mental well-being, he no dey have best of am."
World Health Organisation (WHO) describe mental health as "state of mental well-being wey enable people cope with stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community."
Mr Udofia note say what dem write in suicide note na indication of lack of social well-being tied to current realities in country. He explain say every Nigerian don dey stressed due to socio-economic hardship, wey affect general mental well-being.
He also explain say mental, physical and social well-being form three pillars of health, and if anyone distort, e fit wreak havoc. Similarly, Mr Olumiji also say im confirm Mr Yushau dey good mental health based on im interaction with im.
What determine state of one's mental health fit tie to exposure to social and economic factors such as poverty and violence. Mental health conditions fit lead to mental disorders and even self-harm, like suicide attempts. Individuals wey attempt suicide dey known to experience feelings of helplessness, bordering on notion say difficult situation dem go through no fit get better.
Mr Olumuji say Mr Yushau's action no surprise, given current economic hardship in country. He urge government to address socio-economic challenges facing citizens, saying "if we no tackle am, e fit lead to more suicide attempts".
Meanwhile, Nigerian Mental Health, civil society group, call on government to repeal laws penalising citizens caught trying to take their own lives. Dem say attempted suicide no be criminal offence, but rather cry for help.
Prime 9ja Online report say Mr Yushau's case no be isolated one, as many Nigerians dey struggle with mental health issues due to economic hardship. Dem urge government to take immediate action to address socio-economic challenges facing citizens.
In related development, FCTA official say dem dey work with security agencies to ensure Mr Yushau get necessary medical attention. Dem also promise to investigate how Mr Yushau access mast without detection by security operatives.
As Nigeria dey grapple with socio-economic challenges, citizens urge government to take immediate action to address mental health issues in country. Dem say attempted suicide no be criminal offence, but rather cry for help.
Source: Prime 9ja Online Pidgin: Suicide Attempt: FCTA Official Say Survivor Fit Face One Year for Jail