Men of the Lagos State Police Command disallowed a businessman, Abiodun Adeyinka, from carrying out suicide by jumping into the lagoon on the Third Mainland Bridge in the course of the Eid-el-Kabir festival on Friday.
PUNCH Metro collected that Abiodun contacted a microfinance bank for N390,000 to enhance his business but could not refund the credit and the accumulated interest, because the venture turned out to be unsuccessful.
Disturbed by his failure to repay the loan, the 45-year-old left his place of residence in the Ikotun area of the state and journeyed for the Third Mainland Bridge, where he tried to jump into the lagoon.
It was learnt that policemen attached to the Bariga Division, watching Abiodun carefully, swiftly prevented him from dropping into the lagoon.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said in a statement on Sunday that after Abidoun was saved, the father of two said during interrogation that the reason he attempted to take his life was because of his indebtedness.
He added that Abiodun attending medical and counselling sessions.
Elkana stated, “On Friday, July 31, 2020, around 1.50pm, police operatives deployed on the Third Mainland Bridge intercepted one Adeyinka Abiodun, 45, of Abaranje Road, Ikotun, while attempting to jump into the lagoon. He was rescued and taken to the Bariga Police Station for questioning and debriefing.
“He stated that in March 2020, he obtained a loan of N390,000 with a repayment plan for six months and accrued interest of N142,287,25 from a microfinance bank on the Lagos Island. The loan was collected with the intention of upgrading his wine retail business, but the business failed and the money was lost.
“He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. He is married with two children. He is currently attending medical and counselling sessions.”
Elkana stated that the microfinance bank, from which Abiodun acquired the loan, contacted to confirm the transaction and after confirmation, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, moved with sympathy, paid the loan.
“Worried by the rate at which people are killing themselves, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, enjoined Lagosians to always explore other means of addressing life challenges other than resorting to taking their own lives, as suicide is never an option.
