If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio - Politics

If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio - Politics - Nairaland

Nairaland Forum › Nairaland General › Politics › If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio (13759 Views)

If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by Guruboi23(op): 9:07pm On Oct 13

'Anyone Who Attempts Suicide And Fails Will Go To Jail,’ Says Akpabio

The Senate has passed, for second reading, a bill seeking to establish a national framework for suicide prevention, decriminalise attempted suicide and provide rehabilitation for survivors, despite opposition from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who insists that the act should remain punishable by imprisonment.

Sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing Cross River South, the bill seeks to address what he described as a contradiction in Nigeria’s laws.

Ekpenyong argued that while the National Mental Health Act recognises attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring treatment, Section 327 of the Criminal Code and Section 231 of the Penal Code still criminalise the act.

He said decriminalisation without accessible care would be incomplete, stressing that suicide has complex causes and requires a humane, health-focused response.

“At the heart of this bill is a simple question: when a Nigerian survives a suicide attempt, should the first response of the state be prosecution or protection?” he asked.

The senator said criminalisation discourages people from seeking help, forces families to conceal suicide attempts and contributes to poor data on the problem.

He warned that continued punishment could create a situation in which people experiencing distress feel compelled to ensure their attempts are fatal to avoid prosecution.

The bill proposes replacing imprisonment with mandatory assessment, referral, treatment and follow-up support. It also provides for crisis helplines, training for police officers, teachers and health workers, public education and a national data system for suicide prevention.

However, Akpabio maintained that attempted suicide should remain a criminal offence, arguing that removing the penalties could encourage the act.

“If you attempt suicide, make sure you die. Anyone who attempts and fails will go to jail,” the Senate President said.

Akpabio added that the issue involves both the Criminal Code and the Penal Code, requiring input from State Houses of Assembly during a public hearing to avoid legal conflicts.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Committees on Judiciary and Health for further legislative action and a public hearing.

https://www.channelstv.com/2026/10/13/akpabio-insists-on-jail-term-for-suicide-attempt-as-decriminalisation-bill-scales-second-reading/

Akpabio on Suicide Bill:

If you attempt to commit suicide, you better succeed, or we will send you to jail

- Godswill Akpabio, Senate President pic.twitter.com/7PpmwASbVJ
— ARISE NEWS (@ARISEtv) October 13, 2026

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by Jakarta: 9:16pm On Oct 13

Basket mouth Akpabio don come with him carry talk again.

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by Dogalmighty17: 9:22pm On Oct 13

Just imagine what the senate president is saying. He is the worst senate president in the history of this country.

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by AMINDA: 9:27pm On Oct 13

Very hilarious joke from Akpabio and at an appropriate time when the Worldbank just published a report that an unprecedented number of Nigerians have been plunged into multidimensional poverty under this government.

https://www.nairaland.com/8765266/cant-take-hardship-anymore-police

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by budaatum: 9:34pm On Oct 13

Neanderthal!

Speaking during the debate, Akpabio said: “At the heart of this bill is a simple question: when a Nigerian survives a suicide attempt, should the first response of the state be prosecution or protection?

“If you attempt suicide, make sure you die. Anyone who attempts and fails will go to jail.”

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by Efuaye(m): 9:52pm On Oct 13

He's dam right!
You have no right to take your life! If you succeed, you know where you'll find yourself, but if you fail, you'll still find yourself where you don't want to be: in jail.

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by illicit(m): 9:58pm On Oct 13

Is it that people no longer bother to edit whatever they will post these days...?

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by magoo10(m): 10:07pm On Oct 13

What the APC government hasn't destroyed does not exist even human dignity is destroyed

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by nothingspoil70: 10:17pm On Oct 13

Some people attempt suicide just to draw attention and sympathy. They don't really have the guts to kpai themselves. These are the people Akpabio was addressing.

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by VeeVeeMyLuv(f): 10:22pm On Oct 13

The man is incredibly funny! Probably the only Senate President with such a great sense of humour. 😂

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by LordIsaac(m): 10:31pm On Oct 13

It's a good bill. The prison will help them see a reason to live. grin

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by Bluntguy: 11:13pm On Oct 13

And you if attempt rape, make sure you rape.

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by Racoon(m): 11:31pm On Oct 13

See how he is gleefully laughing at a serious national issue. It is not their willfull decision to commit suicide but the bad governance that has driven people nuts.

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by judatech: 1:08am On Oct 14*

Who actually owns the life that you have no right to take?
While you are alive the so-called government don't care... Until you fall in your bid to take it...
Funny!

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by AndroBlaze: 1:16am On Oct 14

Those who haven't experienced depression, which usually leads to these suicide attempts, can say all sorts.

The truth is that trying to commit suicide is a sign of mental illness. Also let's be realistic, jailing someone who has tried to commit suicide will only likely lead to the person trying again in prison, and this time his action will likley affect those who are unfortunate to surround him.

Oyinbo have gotten a lot of things wrong recently, but when it comes to mental illness, we cannot lecture them in this country as realistically only very few people in this land aren't dealing with one mental ailment or the other.

Akpabio for example, clearly has his own issues he has not been diagnosed for

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by faceland: 2:40am On Oct 14

Someone want to kill himself and you want to add to his sufferings.

We should show them the politician house and give them gas cylinder.

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by TheMensch(m): 7:23am On Oct 14

This man no well oo cheesy

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by Doye122: 7:27am On Oct 14

Common sense is seriously lacking in this government. So u mean with the kinda hardships going on and an individual attempts suicide, the person should now be jailed and not be directed to get psychic help? Like how does that make sense. We really need to vote these vultures out. Haba!!!

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by iwaeda: 8:49am On Oct 14*

Akpabio is mentally imbalance. How can you be laughing about people that are depressed. Why is NASS trying to criminalise suicide, have they not made it mental illness? I just pray this set of people will not rule Nigeria again. cry

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by franchasng: 8:55am On Oct 14

This very APC regime is made up of the worst set of Nigerians, from President to Vice to Senate President to Ministers, Spokespersons, etc.

Nigerians really need to be bold and daring to confront these monsters in power and make sure they are banished come 2027 if not, I fear for the future of Nigeria should they succeed in rigging themselves into office again in 2027 general election cry

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by Professor007(m): 10:38am On Oct 14

nothingspoil70:
Some people attempt suicide just to draw attention and sympathy. They don't really have the guts to kpai themselves. These are the people Akpabio was addressing.

Even those people need to be protected. No single animal on the planet willfully commits suicide. Now imagine the amount of mental disorientation an animal has to go through to even attempt it. Y'all just talking from your high horses because you think it can't be you. If a close person family or friends have ever committed/attempted suicide, I'm pretty sure you'll delete this. The Senate president is a very self-centered careless talker.

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by Samking987: 12:35pm On Oct 14

They knew their Government is going to make Nigeria unbearable.To this they don't want any one to attempt suicide because it will expose their wicked act to the citizen and draw attention towards them

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by LagosOrigin: 12:45pm On Oct 14

This is APC telling you Nigerians to commit suicide if you like, the government don't care

The message is clear

So it's now left for you Nigerians to vote APC again in 2027 and commit suicide due to hardship or vote wisely

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by donleo92(m): 12:45pm On Oct 14

Normally you suppose dieeeee oooj cheesy

Else hand go touch you waytin no nice!!!

But this senator go go down has the worst Senate president ever.

Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by mikeapollo: 12:47pm On Oct 14

Dogalmighty17:
Just imagine what the senate president is saying. He is the worst senate president in the history of this country.

Very irresponsible and useless senate president!
These are the people that Tinubu selected to be his friends, advisers in govt.

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by Badgers14: 12:50pm On Oct 14

Instead of offering help and counseling... didnt he just return from abroad? The country he was visiting, dont they have suicide hotlines? And Government and NGOs that help distressed individuals??

He saw those good things but came back to the country and out of all the needs of Nigerians.. he is championing a bill to criminalize unsuccessful suicide attempts ?? What a shame angry

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by UkoAnnang(m): 12:51pm On Oct 14

If they make Nigeria a drama series

It would become a horror movie

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by 3kay945(m): 12:51pm On Oct 14*

When i said we are clowns in this country, it is not an understatement. See what a Senate president, number 3 citizens of the country saying o.

Boost fully said it with his wide chest in the time of hunger and pains.

... and we people will just laugh and pretend we didn't hear. angry

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Re: If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die – Akpabio by IMPARTIAL: 12:52pm On Oct 14

Simple... The person go just finalize the suicide in the prison!

Is this what obtains in other climes? Rather than counsel the victims, you want to jail dem. Shuu! Don't you see that these people are going through hell in their lives?

Please ascertain what the issues are in their lives. Then assist in sorting the problems.

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