The man who created a scare at Katampe, Abuja on Monday when he climbed a mast to protest economic hardship in the country, has been identified as Shuaibu Yushau and is in police custody.
Yushau was reportedly handed over to the police after he was convinced by the emergency responders and concerned citizens to come down from the mast.
Yushau had left a suicide note at the foot of the mast, demanding the return of the reinstatement of the abolished fuel subsidy regime, among others, for the government to alleviate the burdens on Nigerians.
FCT Police Command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, in a statement that Yusuf was stopped convinced to come down from the mast and thereafter was arrested.
“Following a distress call from concerned citizens about a young man who climbed a very high mast with a placard at Aso Radio in Katampe at about 09:10 a.m, the operatives of the FCT Police Command swiftly mobilised to the location.
“With much professional persuasion from the police operatives, the man later identified as Shuaibu Yushau was prevented from taking his own life.
“He claimed to have been observing the mast for about a week before deciding to climb it. The suspect is presently in police custody and a stable condition.”
Yushau wrote in his suicide note: “These are the major Nigerian problems, and I’m ready to sacrifice my life for the solution to them. I am calling fellow Nigerians to join me in this riot.
“On behalf of fellow Nigerians, I demand the following: ‘Government should return fuel subsidy.
“Government should declare a state of emergency in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, and Borno on insecurity matters and take immediate action to clear terrorism in the above-listed states and the country at large.
“The government should open borders for food importation to eradicate food shortages in the country.
“Government should immediately respond to the problem of out-of-school children, which is increasing rapidly.”
Yusuf further stated in another note that the economic hardship and the level of insecurity in the country had lasted for a long time, and there seemed to be no feasible solution.
“It’s long enough!!! Long enough for the government to stand by and do nothing while Boko Haram bandits and kidnappers are killing people in the country every day.
“Long enough for citizens to continue suffering from hunger.
“Long enough for the inflation rate to continue to rise rapidly
“Long enough for the number of out-of-school children to continue increasing.
“Long enough for me to keep quiet. Justice for masses.”
