In a daring rescue operation, Nigerian Army soldiers from the 81 Division prevented a woman identified as Mrs. Francesca Spark from taking her own life after she jumped into the Lagos Lagoon. The incident occurred near the 81 Division Officers’ Mess in Marina, Lagos.
The Army’s swift intervention was revealed in an official statement released on Monday morning by Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations.
The statement read, “Nigerian Army (NA) soldiers operating under 81 Division NA have gallantly prevented a suicide attempt by one Mrs. Francesca Spark, who plunged into the Lagos Lagoon around 81 Division Officers’ Mess, Marina Lagos, in an attempt to take her own life.”
“The troops of 65 Battalion NA deployed at the Officers’ Mess, who sighted Mrs Spark quickly used their military riverine skills and ingenuity to rescue her. She was given first aid and stabilized by the battalion medical team.”
After Mrs. Spark’s condition was stabilized, the Army contacted her family, and she was subsequently handed over to her husband, Mr. Spark Oghene Ovie, who resides in Awoyaya, Lagos.
In recognition of the soldiers’ gallant efforts, Major General Muhammed Usman, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 81 Division NA, commended them for their swift response and effective execution of the rescue mission. The GOC expressed his satisfaction with the soldiers’ application of their disaster management training in a critical situation that could have led to the loss of a fellow citizen’s life.
Major General Usman emphasized that such operations fall under the purview of military operations other than war, conducted during emergencies or natural disasters. He underscored the Army’s commitment to supporting leading agencies during emergencies and reiterated its dedication to safeguarding the lives and property of citizens, even in times of crisis.
This remarkable rescue operation serves as a testament to the Nigerian Army’s preparedness to respond to emergencies and underscores its vital role in ensuring the safety and well-being of Nigerian citizens.
