Suicide used to only hit the foreign headlines some years back, but shockingly, it appears and sadly keeps re-appearing in our domestic headlines nowadays. Uncountable number of people in Nigeria are frequently losing their lives through suicide. Unfortunately, very recently, most of the people committing suicide have been students of tertiary institutions–this, in fact, prompted me to write this piece–and proffer what I think can effectively address the cases of suicide in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Some of these suicides still remain fresh in our memory. Aisha Omolola, a student of A.B.U, Zaria who committed suicide attributed her death to her parents who neglected her while she was in school. Sarah, a B.U.K student too committed suicide because she could not register a course as a result of the closure of the institution's portal for registration. The two students above drank poisonous insecticides. A male student of ATBU sadly hanged himself to death because he could not go for IT as well as graduate with his mates. A Niger Delta University student, Aduba Daniel drank insecticides because he had 'carry over' in his courses. What keeps shocking the people is the suicide of a 17-year old student who only failed his UTME and drank insecticides in Jos. One can go on and on in mentioning the cases of suicides in Nigerian institutions.
The religions in Nigeria frown at suicides. For example, the suicide of Aisha sparked off hot arguments in December, 2018; verses from the religious scriptures had been cited which curse people committing suicides and how they would be thrown into the Hell Hereafter. While other people sympathized with her and prayed for the reposition of her soul in peace. Under the Nigerian Law, attempting suicide is a criminal offence; this is stated in section 327 of the Criminal Code. Section 227 of the Penal Code punishes any person who abets suicide with imprisonment which may extend to ten years.
Despite the religious and statutory provisions on suicide, the phenomenon still occurs and keeps re-occuring. This, therefore, calls for an approach that has to go beyond textual provisions. Cursing or praying for the victims seem not to solve the problem. What has/have to be done in order to address the cases of suicide in tertiary institutions?
Firsly, there is the dire need for active Guidance and Counselling Centres in our institutions. Students should be properly guided and counselled. This will help in preventing them from getting into problems that may depress them. Lecturers have a very important role to play. It is well known that some lecturers' unbecoming attitudes frustrate the students. The lecturers have to treat the students kindly and humanly; by this I do not mean degrading themselves before the students.
Secondly, students should not be isolating themselves as this fuels depression. Like the case of Hikmat Gbadamasi of University of Port Harcourt, she opted to live in a private apartment off school campus, away from her friends. She barred her friends from visiting her and was finally found dead after drinking insecticides. To hang around, talk, play and laugh with friends take away so much of the students' psychological problems. Students should not always be hiding their problems as a hidden disease should not be expected to cure.
Furthermore, the students should be hardworking and not expect what they want to happen by chance. At the end, disappointment may spring up which may lead to depression. Students must always bear in mind that challenges are inevitable in life. Anything anytime may happen–either good or bad–this should be taken as a divine providence. Here comes the role of Muslim Students Society and Christian Students Association in teaching, preaching and reminding students about religious provisions that centre on patience, endurance, perseverance, destiny, the wrath of God on those who commit suicide and so on. It is said religion plays a euphoric function among its adherents.
Finally, parents who have sent their sons and daughters to school should not abdicate responsibilities. They should do as much as possible to make their children feel at home. The greatest disappointment comes where one's own parents neglect him/her. One may feel serving no purpose in life.
Written by Abdul Mutallib Muktar,
A Law student, Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
And can be reached via: abdulmutallib.muktar@gmail.com
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