Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu recently came to the rescue of a businessman in the state Abiodun Adeyinka who attempted to jump into the Third Mainland Bridge lagoon during the Eid-el-Kabir festival on Friday.
Lagos police spokesman Bala Elkana said in a statement on Sunday that Mr Abiodun was intercepted from jumping into the lagoon by policemen attached to the Bariga Division.
He said Abiodun had approached a microfinance bank for N390,000 to boost his wine retail business but could not repay the loan and the accrued interest.
The 45-year-old, a father of two, who lives in Ikotun was said to have told the police that he tried to take his life because of his indebtedness.
“He (Abiodun) stated that in March 2020, he obtained a loan of N390,000 with a repayment plan for six months and accrued interest of N142,287,25 from a microfinance bank on the Lagos Island. The loan was collected with the intention of upgrading his wine retail business, but the business failed and the money was lost.
“He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. He is married with two children. He is currently attending medical and counselling sessions,” Mr Elkana said.
The police spokesman further said the microfinance bank which gave out the loan was contacted to confirm the transaction and after confirmation Mr Sanwo-Olu, moved with compassion, repaid the loan.
Elkana said, “The microfinance bank was contacted and it confirmed the loan. The state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, moved with compassion, came to the rescue of the victim by repaying the loan.
“Worried by the rate at which people are killing themselves, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, enjoined Lagosians to always explore other means of addressing life challenges other than resorting to taking their own lives, as suicide is never an option.”
Elkana said Abiodun’s case was the eighth suicidal attempt prevented in the state in the last two months.
