Suicide Attempt In Nigeria May Attract 6-Month Community Service Sentence

The Nigerian House of Representatives passed on Tuesday, passed for second reading a bill that seeks to sentence anyone who attempts suicide to six months of community service and mandatory counseling.

Anyone who attempts to kill himself is guilty of a misdemeanor and faces a year in prison, according to Section 327 of the Criminal Code Act.

However, a House bill sponsored by Rep. Francis Waive (APC, Delta) seeks to replace the prison sentence with six months of mandatory counseling and community service.

Waive, who led the debate on the proposal, stated that every suicidal act with a non-fatal outcome is classified as “attempted suicide” by the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to him, suicide is now the world’s second biggest cause of death among people aged 15 to 35, with figures indicating that poor and middle-income countries account for 79 percent of global suicide.

He went on to say that suicide rates have climbed by around 60% in the last 45 years, establishing it as a major public health issue (WHO, mental health).

He further said that mental health problems such as depression, long-term substance misuse, schizophrenia, mood disorders, psychosis, and other psychiatric diseases are the most common risk factors for suicide behavior.

He claims that roughly one-third of those who try suicide do it again within a year, and that some of those who attempt eventually commit suice.

He stressed that in May 2019, “it was reported that Chukwuemeka Akachi, a bright 400-level student of the Department of English and Literary Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN) committed suicide by ingesting two bottles of ‘Sniper’ an insecticide.

“This was not his first attempt. Friends and family said on more than two occasions, he drank kerosene and petrol to kill himself but was either rescued or the substance was not as effective in killing him. Akachi also wrote about his struggle with mental health and the several efforts he made before the final act.”

He insisted that, under the current provisions of the Act, he should be punished for his attempts (if he had not succeeded in the final attempt), noting that while many countries that previously punished non-fatal suicidal behaviors have since repealed or reviewed their laws, Nigeria continues to hold those who attempt suicide criminally liable.

He said “Suicides and attempts have been on the increase in Nigeria. This could be due to several reasons but primarily due to harsh economic conditions of the average Nigerian.

“Research has also shown a strong link between suicide and mental illness/disorder, however, it continues to be treated as a crime in Nigeria. This means that a person who survives a suicide attempt will be harassed, arrested and punished by the state with an imprisonment term of up to one year.

“This Bill suggests that suicidal people are in need of effective treatments, counselling and assistance not punishment. Penalizing attempted suicide is hardly a prevention method instead the law should direct the appropriate authorities to assist the traumatized attempters.

“Self-destructive behaviour is often a cry for help since suicide is mainly an indication of underlying mental and psychological disorder.

The criminal laws are better suited for prosecuting criminal acts not an exhibited call for help and act of distress.

“It is therefore imperative to substitute section 327 of the Principal Act which provides for a rash treatment for anyone who attempts suicide with a proposed amendment which provides that “Any person who attempts to kill himself is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to compulsory counselling and community service for a period not less than six month”