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NSCDC saves man from committing suicide over N24,000 debt

Published

9 years ago

August 27, 2017

A middle aged man attempt to kill himself over his inability to redeem a N50,000 loan from a credit facility outfit was averted by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ogun State Command.

The 34-year-old man identified as Abiodun Onipede said he was frustrated due to pressure mounted on him by his creditor.

Onipede, it was gathered, has five children and was a former staff of Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Agency (TRACE).

According to NSCDC officials, the incident happened along Ayetoro road in Abeokuta.

Onipede had run rope around his neck which he had already fastened to a tree in the bush.

It was learnt that the man was saved by a stroke of luck as an NSCDC operative belonging to the anti-vandal team, who wanted to ease himself saw the victim in the bush as raise alarm leading to his rescue.

When questioned, it was discoveted that the man was Tricycle rider and a 200 level drop-out from the Federal College of Education(FCE), Osiele due to financial constraints.

Onipede said he wanted suicide because “due to the health problem of my child in 2008, I had to drop out of school so that I could have some money to take care of my sick child.

“Later, the child died in 2009 because we were unable to pay some hospital bills after people have helped us in raising money for the surgery.

“I was duped by some people and they even threatened me, and this made me to leave Abeokuta for Akwa-Ibom state. It was when I came back after a year that I discovered I have been sacked from the TRACE.

“I was really frustrated and didn’t know what to do. To worsen my situation, I 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 the breadwinner.

“My wife was arrested by Lapo officials with OPC because of the money. Am just frustrated because I have to pay N3,000 every Friday and I am presently jobless. And I still have about N24,000 to balance.

“I cannot pay the hospital bill of my mother, I can’t take care of her, I was told she is now on the street begging to survive. No family to help me, we have been living in abject poverty.

“I considered the option to commit suicide was due to my inability to refund the ‘Lapo’ loan I collected when I wanted to start my tricycle business.

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“The Lapo officials have been making life intolerable for my family because I find it difficult to pay the weekly N3,000 which I remitted every Friday.

The Public Relations Officer of NSCDC, Ogbonnaya Dyke, said the action of Onipede was a crime against the state.

“Since the matter is under our Crisis management team, we have to swing into action to address the situation.

“It is a crime against the state for someone to try to take his life. 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 investigation for the police to carry one with a view to prosecuting him,” he reiterated.