Bawku (U/E), June 12, GNA- An attempt by a 36-year-old man, Awini Mbugri of Sabon Geri, a suburb of Bawku to commit suicide on Monday over the death of his wife and two kids failed when the branch of the tree he had tied the rope broke off.

The wife and two children were killed in an accident about four years ago.

He was alleged to have tied a nylon rope to a branch of a tree in the family's compound and had the other end around his neck but his bid to commit suicide failed when the branch broke off. This reporter chanced on the family members having a tough time dissuading Mbugri from carrying on with his diabolical plans after the initial failure.

Fauzia Awini, a niece of the man who gave details of the incident, told the reporter that Mbugri had been mentally unstable since the death of his beloved wife and two kids who perished in an accident about four years ago whilst returning from a market day at Pusiga. She said Mbugri had been sent to various psychiatric centres across the country, but his condition always appears to worsen and was kept indoors ever since.

Fauzia said on Monday, her uncle took advantage of the absence of family members and tried to commit suicide but two of his senior sisters appeared on the scene and questioned him as to what he was using the rope for.

He replied that he wanted to tie a goat for the market but they told him the rope was too high to tie a goat to it, so they removed it. She said Mbugri, who was infuriated by their act, brought another nylon rope and threatened to deal with any one who tries to take the rope from him, but the sisters raised an alarm, which attracted the attention of neighbours.

Before the neighbours could make an attempt to stop him, Mbugri tied the rope around his neck and the tree branch, but in his bid to jump the branch broke off and he fell sustaining bruises over his face and body.

The police are yet to receive a formal complaint from the family about the incident as at the time this reporter contacted the district police commander, ASP Alex Acquah.