Man Arrested for Attempted Suicide After Climbing 120ft Mast in Abuja

By Iyojo Ameh

A young man identified as Shuaibu Alhaji Yushau been arrested by police in the Federal Capital Territory, quoting hardship as his reason for wanting to take his life.

Yushau had climbed a 120ft telecommunications mast at ASO Radio in the Katampe area on Monday, intending to end his life.

Emergency responders managed to persuade him to come down after he had been observing the mast for about a week.

Josephine Adeh, spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, confirmed in a late Monday statement that Yushau is currently in police custody and in stable condition.

“Further development will be communicated in due course,” Adeh added.

In Nigeria, while suicide itself is not a crime, attempted suicide is punishable by law.

Section 327 of the Criminal Code Act, which applies to southern Nigeria, states: “Any person who attempts to kill himself is guilty of a misdemeanour, and is liable to imprisonment for one year.”

Similarly, section 231 of the Penal Code, applicable to northern Nigeria, asserts: “Whoever attempts to commit suicide and does any act towards the commission of such offence, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both.”

Despite these laws, the suicide rate in Nigeria remains significant, with 6.9 suicides per 100,000 people in 2019, equating to approximately 7,019 individuals annually. This rate, although lower than the global average of 9.0 per 100,000, is still a cause for concern.

Critics argue that criminalizing attempted suicide further victimizes already distressed individuals. Research indicates that about 90% of those who attempt suicide suffer from mental health problems, such as depression, which affects 20.8% to 35.8% of these individuals.

Moreover, the criminalization of attempted suicide may increase the likelihood of repeated attempts, as individuals may try to avoid legal consequences. It also shifts the focus from providing care and treatment to enforcing punishment, which has not proven effective as a deterrent.