Driver’s Intervention Prevents a passenger’s Súicide Attempt in Calabar

A driver, Mr. Kingsley Benson, played a pivotal role in preventing a female passenger from attempting suicide in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State.Speaking with Vanguard after ensuring the passenger’s admission to the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital on Calabar Road, Benson revealed that he became alarmed by the cryptic statement made by the female passenger, whose identity is withheld, when he picked her up in the Bogobiri area of the city.Benson recounted, “A lady requested a ride from Bogobiri this morning; I observed she was looking really sad. I tried to start a conversation, but she just gave a ‘fake’ smile and requested I turn on my air conditioner.”He expressed concern about her request, explaining, “Her request was what got me worried because she said, ‘Driver, please turn on your air-conditioner, let me enjoy this last one.’ Although I ignored her first statement, before we got to her destination at Edgerly in Calabar South, the statement came up again.”Realizing the gravity of the situation, Benson took a closer look at the nylon bag she carried, noticing it resembled a sniper container. Concerned for her well-being, he decided to take immediate action.Recognizing the urgency, Benson informed the passenger that he needed to make a quick stop at Watt market. Initially considering Atakpa police station, he ultimately chose the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital as the best place for intervention.Upon entering Calabar Road, he informed the passenger that he needed to buy fuel and drove into the hospital premises. Benson promptly reported the situation, explaining his observations to the hospital staff. They swiftly took the passenger into their facility, inspected her bag, and confirmed the presence of sniper.Benson shared, “They discovered she had sniper and said she wanted to end it all when I dropped her at home. They asked me to leave and took her details; I believe she will be talked out of the situation.”While attempts to reach the Hospital Management were unsuccessful, an anonymous source confirmed the incident to Vanguard, stating that the girl’s relatives had been contacted.