One ADEYINKA ABIODUN has been stopped from committing suicide by jumping into the Lagos Lagoon.
The incident, which happened over the weekend, is said to be the 8th suicide attempt foiled by the Lagos State Police Command in the last two months.
Governor BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU has intervened and paid off a bank loan that forced the 45-year-old husband and father of two children to attempt taking his own life.
Governor SANWO-OLU was moved by compassion for ABIODUN after the man was arrested by policemen who are keeping watch on the Lagos 3rd Mainland Bridge.
The Lagos State Police Command spokesman, DSP BALA ELKANA, said the suicidal man had left his residence at Abaranje road, in Ikotun, to the 3rd Mainland Bridge before he was arrested and taken to the Bariga Police Station.
DSP ELKANA said the man revealed during questioning that he had obtained a loan of N390,000 in March, 2020 from a microfinance bank on Lagos Island to upgrade his wine retail business.
The loan came with an interest of N142,287:25, with a six months repayment plan. However; the business suffered and the husband and father of two children was unable to repay the loan.
The Police Public Relations Officer said Governor BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU was moved with compassion and called the microfinance bank to repay the loan on behalf of the man.
Following the development; the Commissioner of Police Lagos State, HAKEEM ODUMOSU, has enjoined Lagosians to always explore other means of addressing life challenges than trying to take their own life.
C.P ODUMOSU warned that suicide was never an option to any problem, just as he called on well-meaning individuals to always reach out to the needy and less privileged persons around them.