Reactions have continued, following the scary suicide attempt by an Akwa Ibom-born UNICAL student and resident of Cross River, who, on Thursday last week, climbed about one hundred feet high, stadium flashlights pole, threatening to jump off should anyone attempt to stop him and was finally rescued by the officers and men of the Nigeria Police.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, Cross River State Command, DSP Irene Ugbo had said, “It was a suicide attempt I think he just told us that it was his own way of launching a protest against the state government to revive sporting facilities at the U.J Esuene’s Stadium.
“From what we gather he is a sports lover and his thinking is that government should rise up to the occasion and rehabilitate the sporting facilities at the stadium,” she said.
The four hundred level Philosophy student whom eyewitnesses explained claimed was on a suicide mission is identified as Effiong Kingsley Paul, an indigene of Uyo -Obio Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, and is in his late 20s.
Paul Effiong claimed that his intention was to draw government attention; as a form of protest over the deplorable state of the stadium facilities, especially the basketball court which sources claimed the UNICAL student who attempted suicide is in love with.
Also, in his reaction, the Head of Police Anti-Crime and Kidnapping squad, also known as Dragon Squad, DSP Abdulhameed Awordi, said there were suspicions that Effiong Paul’s mental health is in doubt.
“We are likely going to take him to the Psychiatric hospital for medical examination to find out if his mental health is stable or he is on hard drugs or in good health,” he said.
A psychologist, Professor Anthony Inaku, said, “I have heard of this issue, but I wonder what really happened to the young Nigerian; I won’t want to dwell long on this issue because it is either he is mentally imbalanced or politically motivated; because what kind of useless protest will warrant you to climb that tall stadium lighting stand? I am very very devastated by his actions,” he said.
A mother of three, Mrs Mirabel Okechukwu, explained that in Paul’s actions, no matter how silly, is imbedded a strong message.
“The last time I visited the stadium was one month ago, truly the state of facilities in there is bad, so no matter how silly Paul’s actions look, he is saying something useful; at least we know that our stadium; the U-J Esuene stands, need to be renovated, that is how to see the situation because, in every nonsense, there is a sense,” she said.
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