Policemen, neighbours stop man from killing self in Lagos

Men of the Lagos State Police Command and neighbours have stopped a man (names withheld) from killing himself in Igbologun in the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of the state.

PUNCH Metro gathered on Wednesday that the 34-year-old man was drinking a substance suspected to be an insecticide when a labourer in the next compound to his house saw him and raised the alarm.

The labourer who identified himself simply as Jamiu told our correspondent that his alarm attracted the attention of people who quickly contacted the police.

He said, “That Tuesday morning around 10.30 a.m. while I was at a building site, I looked into the next compound and saw one man drinking something from a white bottle that I recognised as an insecticide.

“Immediately I saw him, I started shouting, people gathered and rushed into his compound to stop him. As people were gathering, I then ran to the police station to report. Policemen came and rushed him to the hospital.

The state Police Public Relations officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to our correspondent, adding that the man is currently under the protective custody of the police in the hospital.

Hundeyin indicated that the man may be prosecuted, saying, “Attempted suicide is a felony because it involves taking life.”

He, however, added, “Charging the suspect to court depends on the outcome of his medical treatment. If he survives it and he is strong enough to be arraigned, yes, we will arraign him.

“He is still in hospital. Once he is discharged, yes. A law has been broken; a crime has been committed. Attempted suicide is a crime, so, we will take him to court. It is now left to the magistrate to discretionally discharge and acquit him.”