A middle age man, Abiodun Onipede, on Saturday attempted to kill himself over his inability to refund a loan of N50, 000.
He was, however, prevented by the anti-vandalization team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Ogun State command.
He was said to have been prevented as he attempted to hang himself by a member of the team who wanted to urinate in the bush.
Onipede, a commercial tricyclist, was reported to have secured the loan from a micro-finance arrangement known as ‘Lapo.’
He was said to have tied a rope to a tree and was about hanging himself when a member of the NSCDC team saw him.
The man, a 34-year old father of five, later told journalists that he worked with Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, TRACE, in Ogun State but was sacked.
He explained that his inability to perform his responsibility as the head of the family led him to attempt suicide.
He added that his failure to pay the ‘loan from LAPO, a private micro-credit lending organisation, forced him to take the decision to take his life.
“I am a 200-level drop-out of Federal College of Education, Osiele, I dropped out because I could not get financial assistance to continue,” he said.
“Due to the health problem of my child in 2008, I had to drop out so that I could have some money to take care of my sick child.
“But, we later lost the child in 2009 because we were unable to pay some hospital bills after people had helped us in raising money for the surgery.
“I was duped by some people and they even threatened me which made me to leave Abeokuta for Akwa-Ibom state.
‘’It was when I came back after a year that I discovered I had been sacked from TRACE.
“I am frustrated because am owing a lot of people ranging from house bill to electricity bill and some other bills.
‘’I am ashamed of myself because am not a responsible man, I cannot cater for my family as a head
“The LAPO officials have used OPC (Odua Peoples Congress) to arrest my wife because of the money, if not for the help of my pastor.
” Am just frustrated because I have to pay N3,000 every Friday and I am presently jobless. And I still have like N24,000 to balance.
“What added to my conclusion to commit suicide was due to my inability to refund the ‘LAPO’ loan I collected when I wanted to start my tricycle business.
” The officials of the LAPO have been giving my family tough times for sometimes now because, I cannot afford to be repaying N3,000 every Friday,” he said.
He, however, said he regretted his action and wanted a second chance in life.
“I wish to go back to school; I want the government to help me with a job that can cater for my family and other things that are important,” the man said.
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of NSCDC, Ogbonnaya Dyke, described it as a crime against the state for someone to try to take his life.
Mr. Dyke added that the suspect would be handed over to the police, after the NSCDC Intelligence Unit had concluded its work.
“Since the matter is under our Crisis Management Team, we have to swing into action to address the situation.
“Necessary actions will be taken by the Corps in addressing the situation. He is going to be handed over to the police after our intelligence Unit has done its work,” he said.
(NAN)
