Soldiers of the Nigerian Army operating under 81 Division have prevented a suicide attempt by one Mrs Francesca Spark, who plunged into the Lagos Lagoon around 81 Division Officers’ Mess, Marina Lagos.
The Acting Deputy Director, of Army Public Relations, 81 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Ayeni disclosed this in a press release issued on Monday said the troops of the 65 Battalion deployed at the Officers’ Mess, who sighted Mrs Spark quickly used their military riverine skills and ingenuity to rescue her.
The Army said she was quickly administered first aid and stabilized by the battalion medical team and was handed over to her husband, one Mr Spark Oghene Ovie residing at Awoyaya Lagos after her family was contacted.
Applauding the swift move of the soldiers, the General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Major General Muhammed Takuti Usman “commended the soldiers for being observant, and for their ingenuity, courage, and gallantry.”
The GOC said he is pleased that soldiers brought their training in disaster management to bear in such a critical situation that could have claimed the life of a fellow citizen.
The Major General said such an operation is a military operation other than war conducted during emergencies or natural disasters, and affirmed that troops have been trained to support leading agencies during emergencies.
He assured residents of the NA’s commitment to protect them and their properties even during emergencies.
Meanwhile, good-spirited youths in Nyangasang Community, Calabar Municipal Local Government of Cross River State have foiled, and apprehended some gang members of kidnappers as well as rescued their victim – Mrs. Caroline Bassey.
The incident which happened at about 11.30 am on Saturday 4th November 2023 was masterminded by kidnappers who came in a Toyota Camry car and pretended to rent chairs from the victim.
They succeeded in tying one of the victim’s aides and putting him in the refrigerator before driving out of her premises with her own personal car.
However, luck ran out of them as the alarm for help was raised, and as the kidnappers were driving out of her premises, a dare-brave Good Samaritan blocked them in a bid to abandon their Camry vehicle.
Two of them jumped out of the vehicle to join their colleagues in the victim’s car as they were trying to reverse having noticed the blockage but one of them wasn’t successful as the dare-brave Good Samaritan knocked him down with his Toyota Hilux vehicle, allowing neighbours and some youths to apprehend two of the kidnappers.
Soldiers of the Nigerian Army's 81 Division prevented a suicide attempt by Mrs. Francesca Spark, who jumped into Lagos Lagoon. The Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Ayeni, mentioned the troops' swift rescue using their military riverine skills. Mrs. Spark received first aid and was handed over to her husband after the family was contacted.
The General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Major General Muhammed Takuti Usman, commended the soldiers for their observance, ingenuity, and courage, noting the operation as an example of military efforts in emergency management. He assured residents of the Army's commitment to protecting them during emergencies.
In another incident, youths in Nyangasang Community, Cross River State, thwarted a kidnapping attempt. The kidnappers, posing as customers to rent chairs, had tied up one of the victim's aides and used her car to escape. Alert neighbors and a brave youth managed to block the kidnappers' way, leading to the apprehension of two gang members and the rescue of the victim, Mrs. Caroline Bassey.
