Kano State Fire Service successfully intervened in a suicide attempt by 37-year-old Saifillahi Rabiu, who was grappling with the repercussions of a failed N2 million visa deal.
The incident unfolded on Thursday morning at State Road in the Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano.
According to Alhaji Saminu Abdullahi, the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, they received a distress call at 10:07 a.m. from the Ministry of Works and Housing, Kano State, reporting a suicide attempt by hanging on a tree.
Abdullahi stated, “We received a distress call at about 10:07 a.m. from the Ministry of Works and Housing, Kano State, about a suicide attempt by hanging on a tree.
“On receiving the information, we quickly sent our fire fighting vehicle to the scene at 10:10 a.m.”
Investigations revealed that Rabiu had facilitated connections for individuals seeking travel visas to foreign countries. Despite the success in obtaining the visas, the recipients rejected them, claiming they were not the specified type, and demanded a refund of the money they had paid for the visa processing.
Facing immense pressure and threats from those he sought to assist, Rabiu, a resident of Semegu Quarters, resorted to attempting suicide.
Speaking further, Abdullahi disclosed that, “During interrogation, we gathered that Rabiu connected some people to those that process travel visas to foreign countries, which was successful.
“Those he tried to help, however, rejected the visa, saying it was not the type they paid for and demanded a refund of their money already paid to the processors.
“We reliably gathered that he was able to raise half a million naira only.
“But pressure and threats from the people he wanted to assist made him try to take his own life,” he added.
Rabiu was rescued alive by the fire service and subsequently handed over to the Zaharaddini of Farm Centre Police Division.