ADC Condemns Akpabio’s ‘Seven Virgins’ Remark on Suicide
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised Senate President Godswill Akpabio over his reported reference to “seven virgins” while discussing attempted suicide, describing the remark as insensitive and potentially promoting religious stereotypes.
The opposition party also faulted Akpabio’s reported support for retaining imprisonment as punishment for attempted suicide, arguing that the approach fails to recognise suicide attempts as a mental health concern requiring care and support.
The ADC made its position known in a press statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.
The controversy followed comments attributed to Akpabio during Tuesday’s Senate plenary debate on the National Suicide Prevention Bill, where he reportedly supported imprisonment for people who attempt suicide but survive.
In a video that subsequently circulated online, the Senate President was heard referring to “seven virgins waiting for them” while discussing why death might appear attractive to some young people.
Reacting to the comments, the ADC described the reference as disturbing, arguing that it trivialised a serious issue involving human lives and promoted religious stereotyping.
The party maintained that people who attempt suicide should be treated as individuals experiencing severe distress rather than criminals deserving punishment.
According to the ADC, the criminalisation of attempted suicide is a colonial-era practice that reflects an outdated approach to mental health challenges.
It argued that such laws were rooted in a period when people experiencing psychological distress were treated as offenders rather than individuals requiring medical attention and support.
The party further criticised the Senate President for allegedly defending the retention of the law despite the opportunity to reform Nigeria’s approach to suicide prevention.
The ADC maintained that Nigeria should abandon punitive measures against suicide survivors, noting that several countries that introduced such laws during the colonial era have since abolished them.
It also warned that threatening suicide survivors with imprisonment could discourage vulnerable individuals from seeking help and potentially worsen the crisis.
“A position that leaves a suicidal person with only the choice of death or imprisonment does not discourage suicide. It encourages it,” the party stated.
The ADC urged a more compassionate approach to suicide prevention, insisting that the priority should be protecting lives and ensuring that people experiencing mental health difficulties receive appropriate care rather than face criminal prosecution.
