A 52-year-old man, Kaffo Waheed, whose corpse was found at Itowolo River, Ajegunle in Ikorodu, a Lagos district, committed suicide because of financial challenges.
This was disclosed yesterday by a cleric, Pastor Peter Ajiboye, who said they were still in shock over the mishap.
Waheed, who was declared missing on Saturday, after his wife and three children did not see him for 24 hours; was found dead by the river with a poisonous substance beside him.
He was said to have swollen and decomposing when a scavenger, who had gone there to excrete, found him. It was the scavenger who alerted the pastor about a dead man wearing ankara and bathroom slippers, The Nation learnt.
Ajiboye, the pastor in charge of Ancient Gospel Church said that they never knew the deceased was that depressed to warrant suicide, describing the incident as ‘spiritual’.
According to the cleric, the deceased had the ‘spirit of suicide’ in him, adding that he sent search parties to look for Waheed after Sunday service.
He said: “The landlord who is a policeman, and some people went report the case of missing person. It was the landlord that told us to wait for 24 hours before filing the report. I was not around when the man left and I was told he did not tell his wife where he was going. About five people, including his close friend who stays at Sango went to report.
“He attended my church. His family and sisters also attend my church. He didn’t tell anyone where he was going. He just wore native clothe and bathroom slippers. He stood by the corridor for about 20 minutes. A woman, who saw him, thought he was receiving fresh air. No one knew he was planning to kill himself.
“The said his son even asked him to enter the house but he refused. Then, he left and played with a little child on his way out. He had financial challenges like everyone else. But no one knew it was that bad for him to kill himself. He was an electrician. He was quiet and not troublesome.
“Although he wasn’t seeing customers like before, we all know it’s a general problem. There were difficulties but he also had people around to help. People have helped him and his next year rent has already been settled. So, we don’t understand why he killed himself.
“He had health issues two years ago, and so, no one wanted him to think much. That was why the rent was paid. Maybe, he felt bad as everyone was helping him. Maybe he was worried about it. He gave no clue that he was suicidal. We buried the body immediately because it was swollen and smelled. I believe it is spiritual, the spirit of suicide was in him.”
The deceased’s son, Opeyemi Kaffo, 18, was speechless. He said his mother was also devastated, adding that they had no clue he was suicidal.