An incident in Abuja on Monday caused a significant stir when a man named Shaibu Alhaji Yusuf climbed a 120-meter broadcast mast. The mast is located at the premises of the Abuja Broadcasting Service, the owners of Aso Radio and Television.
The station, owned by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), sits on Katampe Hill, known as the geographic center of Nigeria, along the Kubwa Expressway.
Yusuf, an indigene of Borno State, climbed the mast and refused to come down for several minutes despite efforts by emergency responders. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the state of the country, citing hunger and insecurity as his main grievances.
“I am not happy with the general state of hopelessness in the country, especially hunger and insecurity,” Yusuf stated from the top of the mast.
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Emergency responders and authorities tried to persuade Yusuf to come down, but he remained atop the mast until Florence Wenegieme, the Acting General Manager of the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), intervened. Wenegieme spoke with Yusuf, and her pep talk convinced him to descend.
After he came down, the Nigeria Police Force took Yusuf into custody for further questioning and to ensure his safety. The incident highlights the growing frustration and desperation felt by many Nigerians facing economic hardship and insecurity.