On Monday, the Kano State Police Command stepped in quickly to stop a young man from ending his life after he climbed a tall billboard at the Ado Bayero Bridge in Kano, saying he would jump unless he was allowed to meet a popular TikTok personality, Abdul BK.
The 19-year-old, named Ibrahim Abubakar, is said to be from Adamawa State. Witnesses at the scene were shocked when he scaled the large billboard and threatened to take his own life if the well-known influencer did not show up. The event caused panic among onlookers and passersby.
According to a statement given by the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Hussaini Abdullahi, emergency services rushed to the location after receiving a distress call. Police officers worked with the Kano State Fire Service to manage the situation. A special unit trained for emergency rescue was also sent in to help.
“Through dialogue and negotiation, the TikToker was brought to the scene. Upon seeing him, the young man agreed to descend and was rescued unharmed,” the police said in the statement.
After being rescued, Ibrahim was reported to be physically weak, likely due to going several hours without eating. He was taken straight to the Police Hospital in Bompai for medical care and observation.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Bakori, noted the efforts of the officers and firefighters involved in the rescue. He ordered that a full investigation be conducted to understand what led to the incident and prevent similar cases in the future.
He also noted that attempted suicide is a crime in Nigeria and warned others not to put themselves or others in danger. He asked those going through difficult times to talk to mental health professionals instead of taking such actions.
