{
  "id": 14474898,
  "title": "Akpabio under fire over ‘seven virgins’ comment on suicide",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/akpabio-under-fire-over-seven-virgins-comment-on-suicide",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-14T14:38:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/10/14/akpabio-under-fire-over-seven-virgins-comment-on-suicide/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Senatorial candidate Atiku Abubakar's media aide, Paul Ibe, has lambasted Senate President Godswill Akpabio for a comment linking suicide to a belief in seven virgins in the afterlife. Ibe found the remark insensitive and inappropriate for a senator, urging Akpabio to issue an apology. According to Ibe, suicide should not be treated as a joke and urged the Senate President to focus on compassion and professional help for those who attempt to take their lives. Ibe criticized Akpabio's suggestion that some young Nigerians contemplate suicide due to their religious beliefs about the afterlife, stating that it trivialises mental health issues. He also condemned the criminalisation of attempted suicide, arguing that those who survive should receive medical and psychological support instead of facing imprisonment. Ibe stressed that economic hardship, unemployment, poverty, and hopelessness have exacerbated mental health challenges in Nigeria, making access to mental healthcare and social protection crucial. He accused Akpabio of prioritising punishment over improving mental health services. Ibe called for the decriminalisation of attempted suicide and the strengthening of mental healthcare across the country, urging Akpabio to apologise to Nigerians, especially those facing mental health challenges and those whose religious beliefs may have been demeaned by the comment.",
  "summary": "Paul Ibe, media aide to presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised Senate President Godswill Akpabio over his comment linking suicide to the belief that seven virgins await people in the afterlife. Ibe described the remark as insensitive, offensive and inappropriate for the occupant of the Office of Senate President, […] Akpabio under fire over…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}