Sniper, a highly effective insecticide used to eliminate insects, was the subject of conversation on Twitter Nigeria, on Thursday, due to the rampant use of the chemical by victims to commit suicide.

Advertisement

On Sunday night, Segun, a 22-year-old candidate of the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), had attempted suicide using the insecticide via a live stream on social media, over his low scores in the April exam.

On Monday, Chukwuemeka Akachi, a young poet and an alumnus of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), also took his own life after reportedly consuming two bottles of a poisonous substance suspected to be sniper.

In October 2017, Chinedu Iromuanya, a national diploma student of Nasarawa state polytechnic, had attempted committing suicide by drinking ‘sniper’.

Advertisement

Following the rampant cases of usage of sniper for suicide, a segment of Nigerians have taken to Twitter to call for the ban of the insecticide due to its affordability and the ease at which victims access the chemical.

The call was quickly opposed by another group of social media users who argued that the insecticide should not be blamed but “depression.”

“Federal government of Nigeria, Please, place a ban on Sniper now!!!!!!!!!!!!. Please lets retweet till those in authority take action,” a Twitter user said.

Advertisement

“Parents should take note, chemists and pharmacies should take note, no more selling of Sniper, that shit is causing more harm than good. Say NO to suicide, say NO to Sniper,” another user said.

Here is what some Nigerians had to say:

Advertisement

 



Copyright 2024 TheCable. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from TheCable.

Follow us on twitter @Thecablestyle