An Appeal of the Legal Framework for the Prohibition of Attempted Suicide in Nigeria

Abstract

Suicide has continued to be a global problem. More and more persons people are resorting to suicide as the panacea to all their problems. No matter the reason behind this profound conclusion, one will agree that suicide requires a lot of strength to carry out, and is an act that not many persons can resort to. Suicide is not a happy occurrence, it is an act which leaves grief and sadness with the families, friends, and other persons responsible for the deceased as well as the society at large. At first, many societies in a bid to dissuade potential candidates from carrying out this life-ending act decided to prohibit attempted suicide. Consequently, anyone who attempted suicide was liable to punishment. This punishment however could be felt by the person who made the attempt only if the person failed. Where the person succeeded, one would wonder about the necessity of a post-mortem punishment. That notwithstanding, post-mortem punishment did exist at some time. With the progress of time, some societies realised that the prohibition of attempted suicide did little to dissuade a person intent on ending it all and they were forced to depart from such position. However, Nigeria is one of the countries where attempted suicide remains a crime. The same applies to many other African countries. Religion in Africa is predominantly Christianity and Islam and their views of suicide have a profound impact on how suicide is viewed in Africa. This article advocates for a departure from the present legal framework on attempted suicide in Nigeria in the light of present realities.