Man Stopped from Killing Self, Charged with Attempted Suicide

Segun Atanda/

A middle-aged man was on Sunday prevented from committing suicide in Lagos.

The attempt by the man to take his own life by jumping into the lagoon was aborted through the vigilance of a policeman.

Police however said the man, Folarin Odukoya, would be prosecuted for attempted suicide.

According to police spokesman, SP Chike Oti, the man was spotted, by one Sergeant Bankole Adekoya, loitering around the Ebute Ero Jetty at about 10pm.

The police became suspicious of his motive, and the sergeant consequently radioed the officer in-charge of the Ebute Ero Divisional Police Station, who promptly mobilised his men and some local divers to the scene.

The man reportedly jumped into the lagoon immediately he sighted the policemen, but was prevented from drowning by the local divers.

After he was fished out, the man told the police he works with China Construction Company of Nigeria Limited.

He said that he decided to end his life because of the unjust way he was treated by his employers.

A statement by Oti, on Monday, says: “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Edgal Imohimi, has ordered the prosecution of one Mr. Folarin Odukoya, a staff of China Construction Company of Nigeria Limited (CCCN), for attempted suicide.

“The said Folarin Odukoya would have taken his own life at about 2200 hours of Sunday 17/12/2017 if not for the vigilance of one Police Sergeant Bankole Adekoya of 23PMF, who observed the man critically and reasoned that he was up to something sinister and thus informed the Ebute Ero Divisional Police Officer, SP Sina Olunlade, who arrived the scene with local divers.

“The felon on sighting the police team, jumped into the lagoon near the Ebute Ero Jetty. The divers went after him, rescued and handed him over to the police. The CP who had earlier charged all police officers in Lagos to be on the look out for suicidal men and women and to question anybody seen loitering around bridges, river banks, swamps and the lagoon with a view to ascertaining their mission around the water bodies, commended Sergeant Bankole for his vigilance.”

Oti added: “The reason given by the suspect for wanting to take his own life was because his employer allegedly refused to issue him a certificate he believed would enhance his career.”

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