Health
LAAF Writes Attorney General to Decriminalize Suicide in Nigeria
▪︎UGC : Attorney General of the Federation, Honourable Lateef Fagbemi; Halima Layeni
Halima Layeni Men’s Mental Advocate Executive Director, Life After Abuse Foundation (LAAF), has urged the Federal Government to decriminalize suicide attempts in Nigeria.
” Countries like India, Canada, and New Zealand have decriminalized suicide attempts, recognizing the need for supportive health interventions rather than criminal penalties,” said Halima Layeni.
In an Open Letter to the Attorney General of the Federation, Honourable Lateef Fagbemi, Halima Layeni pointed out : ” Under Section 327 of the Nigerian Criminal Code, any individual who attempts suicide can be imprisoned for up to one year.
This law, which criminalizes suicide attempts, is not only outdated but also ineffective in addressing the root causes of the mental health crisis we face.”
She further noted that instead of offering treatment and support, the criminalization of suicide perpetuates suffering, pushing those in need further into silence and shame.
” The suicide crisis disproportionately affects men, who make up the majority of suicide cases worldwide, and Nigeria is no exception.
Men are often pressured to suppress their emotions, adhere to societal norms of masculinity, and face stigmatization when they seek help for mental health issues. Consequently, many men in Nigeria feel trapped in isolation, leading to higher rates of depression and suicide. Rather than being met with compassion and support, these men risk being labeled as criminals under the current law.
Criminalizing suicide attempts is, at its core, a violation of human rights. Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights both emphasize the right to dignity, health, and mental well-being.
Punishing someone for attempting suicide disregards their fundamental human right to access the care they need.
The act of criminalization perpetuates the idea that those suffering from mental health crises are less deserving of protection, violating principles of equality and human dignity.
Suicide is not a crime; it is a symptom of profound mental health distress. To view it through a legal lens rather than a medical one is to misunderstand the gravity of the issue.
Those who attempt suicide do not need punishment—they need mental health care, compassion, and a system that prioritizes their well-being.
Mental health is a critical element of overall health, and just as we treat physical illnesses, so too must we treat mental health crises with proper support, not prosecution.”
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that Lassa fever has claimed 259 lives and infected 1,086 people across 24 states and 118 local government areas so far in 2026.
In its latest Lassa Fever Situation Report for epidemiological week 36 (August 31 to September 6), the agency said the figures represent a case fatality rate of 23.9 percent — significantly higher than the 18.6 percent recorded during the same period in 2025.
Twelve new confirmed cases were recorded in week 36, a decline from the 18 cases reported the previous week. The fresh infections were detected in Ondo, Edo and Kogi states.
Five states continue to bear the heaviest burden, accounting for 87 percent of all confirmed cases this year: Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo. People aged 21 to 30 remain the most affected age group.
The NCDC noted that no new infections among healthcare workers were recorded during the latest reporting week. The agency continues to urge the public to maintain hygiene, avoid contact with rodents and their droppings, and seek early medical care if symptoms appear.
Health
Nigerian hospital successfully performs kidney cancer surgery via tele-robotic
The development could reduce the need for Nigerians to travel abroad for specialised medical treatment, thereby reducing expenditure on international travel, accommodation and medical services.
• A surgeon performing tele-robotic surgery.
Nisa Premier Hospital, Abuja, has partnered with RoboMed Global and The Redeemer’s Health Village (RHV) to successfully perform what the hospital described as the first tele-robotic surgery in Nigeria and West Africa.
The landmark kidney cancer surgery was performed on a patient at Nisa Premier Hospital, Abuja, while the surgeon, Professor Obi Ekwenna-Davis, remotely controlled the robotic surgical platform from Redeemer’s Health Village in Lagos.
The procedure, which lasted approximately three hours, was performed to remove a kidney affected by a cancerous tumour.
The hospital said the patient had been discharged following the successful procedure, although details about the patient’s identity and condition were withheld for privacy reasons.
Speaking during an event to mark the milestone, the Chief Executive Officer of Nisa Premier Hospital, Dr Ibrahim Wada, said the development demonstrated the potential of tele-robotic surgery to connect specialist surgical expertise with patients across Nigeria.
Wada said the procedure was carried out using the MicroPort robotic surgical platform installed at Nisa Premier Hospital, with the remote surgeon controlling the system from Lagos.
He said the development could reduce the need for Nigerians to travel abroad for specialised medical treatment, thereby reducing expenditure on international travel, accommodation and medical services.
According to him, the technology also creates an opportunity for Nigerians to access specialised expertise from doctors located in other parts of the world without requiring the doctors to travel physically to Nigeria.
Source: Daily Trust
Health
Ondo ‘Monkey Tail’ herbal drink kills 49
The Commissioner for Health in the State, Dr Banji Ajaka, who disclosed this on Wednesday night, said the number of affected persons has now climbed to 170.
A locally produced herbal concoctions known as ‘Monkey Tail’ in Ondo State has killed 49 people .
The Commissioner for Health in the State, Dr Banji Ajaka, who disclosed this on Wednesday night, said the number of affected persons has now climbed to 170.
He explained that the latest deaths were recorded in Irele Local Government Area of the state, where eight persons have died from suspected poisoning.
Ajaka disclosed that health authorities had deployed response teams to Irele LGA and other affected communities to conduct surveillance, manage cases and trace the source of the suspected toxic substance.
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