Residents of Jalingo, Taraba State today were on the mission of preventing a soldier from committing suicide.
According to eyewitnesses, a soldier, whose name was given as Ali climbed the Welcome to Taraba Roadblock Tower -over 24fts high, and is threatening to jump down.
He is speaking in Hausa and pidgin, saying: “I want to die. Allow me to jump down and die.” But the youth who have gathered there are begging him: “Please do not jump. We don’t want you to die.”
Ali is seen on the high altitude Tower, attempting severally to jump down, but the people are trying to make sure they save him if he jumps. But they say they prefer he changes his mind and does not jump.
Eyewitness account disclosed that the soldier’s behaviour called their attention when they spotted him on top of the tower pulling and throwing down the items of clothing on him.
“We noticed someone climbing the place and pulling off his clothes. We got there to discover he is someone we know. He was left with under pant and an inner vest and poised to jump. We went close and began to beg him,” an eyewitness said.
Sources further disclosed that he has an injury on his left kneecap, which he bandaged.
According to residents, Ali has mental illness and has been relieved of his job, of recent.
“He is an ex-soldier, fond of riding military motorbikes in town. He was sacked from the army when it was discovered he is mentally ill,” a resident disclosed.