Odita Sunday 
ADC Faults Akpabio’s ‘Seven Virgins’ Remark, Rejects Jail Term for Suicide Survivors
By Odita Sunday
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned Senate President Godswill Akpabio over his reported “seven virgins” remark during deliberations on the National Suicide Prevention Bill, describing the comment as insensitive and warning against the criminalisation of attempted suicide.
The opposition party also faulted Akpabio’s reported support for imprisonment as punishment for people who survive suicide attempts, insisting that individuals experiencing suicidal distress need medical and psychological support rather than criminal prosecution.
The ADC made its position known in a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, following the Senate President’s comments during plenary on Tuesday.
According to the party, a video that circulated afterwards captured Akpabio laughing as he remarked that “why death may be attractive to some young people is that they have seven virgins waiting for them.”
The ADC said the remark introduced religious stereotyping into a sensitive discussion that should focus on protecting human life and addressing mental health challenges.
“We find the ‘seven virgins’ remark particularly disturbing because it introduces religious stereotyping into a discussion that should be about protecting human life,” the party said.
It described the comment as careless and insensitive, arguing that it trivialised a serious issue with potentially life-threatening consequences.
The party also rejected the continued criminalisation of attempted suicide, describing the relevant laws as a colonial legacy that treats people experiencing severe emotional distress as offenders rather than individuals in need of help.
According to the ADC, Nigeria should use the ongoing legislative process to reform punitive provisions instead of preserving laws that expose suicide survivors to imprisonment.
“It is shameful that, when presented with an opportunity to reform this punitive inheritance, the head of the Senate chose to champion its preservation,” the statement said.
The party argued that punishing people who survive suicide attempts could discourage them from seeking help and worsen the difficulties they face during periods of severe psychological distress.
It further warned that a legal system that leaves vulnerable individuals facing imprisonment after surviving a suicide attempt could undermine efforts to prevent suicide.
“A position that leaves a suicidal person with only the choice of death or imprisonment does not discourage suicide. It encourages it,” the ADC said.
The party maintained that attempted suicide should be treated primarily as a mental health issue requiring appropriate care and support, rather than as a criminal offence.
It called for a more compassionate approach to suicide prevention, urging lawmakers to prioritise the protection of human life and the welfare of vulnerable Nigerians in their consideration of the proposed legislation.
The ADC’s statement adds to the debate surrounding the proposed National Suicide Prevention Bill and the appropriate legal and mental health responses to suicide attempts in Nigeria.
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