Police Detain Man Who Climbed Mast in Abuja to Protest Economic Hardship
By Omowumi Omotosho
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command has detained Shaibu Yusuf after he climbed a broadcast mast owned by Aso Radio and Television to protest the ongoing economic difficulties in the country.
Yusuf, on Monday, had climbed the sky high mast mast, causing a commotion. He left a note stating he would only come down if issues such as economic hardship, insecurity, and the out-of-school children crisis were addressed.
After several minutes of negotiation, the acting general manager of the FCT emergency management department, Florence Wenegieme, persuaded Yusuf to descend, assuring him that his concerns would be conveyed to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), the president, and the federal government.
However, in a statement, the spokesperson for the police command, Josephine Adeh, confirmed that Yusuf is in police custody and in “stable condition.”
According to Section 327 of the Criminal Code, attempting suicide in Nigeria is considered a misdemeanour, punishable by up to one year in prison.
“Following a distress call from concerned citizens about a young man who climbed a very high mast with a placard at Aso Radio in Katampe at about 09:10 a.m, the operatives of the FCT Police Command swiftly mobilized to the location,” the statement reads.
“With much professional persuasions from the police operatives, the man later identified as Shuaibu Alhaji Yushau was prevented from taking his own life.
“He claimed to have been observing the mast for about a week before deciding to climb it. The suspect is presently in police custody and in a stable condition.”