The Nation Newspaper

Tag: commits suicide

  • Man attacks wife with cutlass, commits suicide

    A middle-aged man, Victor Lazarus, has committed suicide after allegedly attacking his wife, Promise, with a machete.

    The Nation learnt that the incident occurred in Asaba, Delta State capital.

    It was gathered that the victim is in a critical condition at the intensive care unit of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba.

    Police spokesman Andrew Aniamaka confirmed the incident.

    He said the police, on arriving the Ibusa Road, Asaba home, found the couple in a pool of blood.

    Aniamaka said they were taken to FMC, Asaba, where the man died.

    An eyewitness, who preferred anonymity, said the incident occurred on Monday evening when the woman returned from a journey and her husband attacked her with a cutlass.

    He said: “When she returned from a journey that evening, little did she know that her husband had prepared to kill her. As soon as she entered their room, the man started attacking her with the cutlass.

    “Their son alerted neighbours, who invited the police. They arrived at the scene and met the man on the floor, writhing in pains.

    ‘’He must have used the same cutlass to kill himself. His body has been taken to mortuary.”

  • 40-year-old commits suicide in Ebonyi

    40-year-old commits suicide in Ebonyi

    A 40-year-old woman, Nkemjika Oyibe, has committed suicide in Ishinkwo Abaomege community, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    Her body was hanging on a tree in Onyemem forest.

    Police spokesman Loveth Odah, who confirmed the incident, said a hunter discovered the body and reported to community leaders, who went to the forest with the deceased’s elder brother, Peter Onyibe, for confirmation.

    She said: “But I wonder why a person would commit suicide and the family did not suspect any foul play. Unless the family knew their sister was having problems, and were suspecting she would commit suicide.

    “They should have also been eager to know what led to her committing suicide. There is a saying that life begins at 40, so someone taking her life at 40 sounds strange.”

    Odah added that the body has been released to the family for burial since no one has been arrested in connection with the incident.

    President of the town union, who pleaded for The Town Union President, who, said the family was not suspecting anyone. The deceased had made similar attempts in the past by taking drugs, he added.

    According to him, she had a mental problem and had disappeared from public domain since December 25 and after search efforts failed, the family gave up the search, only to hear of her suicide.

  • Retired policeman commits suicide in Cross River

    A retired policeman from Mkpani in Ugep Local Government of Cross River State, Mr. Itam Obongha, has hanged himself, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    It was gathered that the deceased travelled to Mkpani on November 1 and killed himself on November 3 in his father’s house.

    Sources said he retired as an assistant superintendent of Police in Anambra State in April.

    An associate of the deceased and a retired superintendent, who preferred anonymity, said Obongha killed himself the next day when he returned home.

    He advised police authorities to ensure retired officers got their entitlements promptly, to avoid frustration that may lead to suicide.

    “The deceased hanged himself in his home at Mkpani. He just retired. I don’t know if he committed suicide because he was not paid immediately he retired.

    “The police authority should hear about this. You know when you retire from the police, you will not be paid your entitlements and they will stop your salary. People who experience this are frustrated. I mean, look at this man that has just killed himself. He was under 60. He just retired from Anambra State Police Command. He was married and had children.”

  • Commercial motorcyclist commits suicide in Ibadan

    A commercial motorcyclist who doubles as the Secretary of LASKAB Oniyanrin Unit of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Sina Adebisi, 37, reportedly committed suicide yesterday in Ibadan.

    The father of three lived in a one-room apartment at Oke Seeni of Oke Padre area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    Although no one could confirm the reason for his action, his neighbours said they discovered that Adebisi had hanged himself when they woke up yesterday.

    Scores of sympathisers stood in front of the deceased’s home, arguing whether the man committed suicide or was assassinated.

    The suicide scene is a one-storey building with delicate wooden staircases. The deceased lived upstairs and the rope with which he allegedly hanged himself was tied to a window frame.

    The soles of his two legs almost touched the ground as his body was found dangling.

    The younger sister to the deceased, Mrs. Abiodun Afolabi, said Adebisi hailed from Obaagun area of Ikirun in Osun State, adding that the deceased was around 37 years.

    She said: “I don’t even know what happened to him because he was not owing any debt. I still saw him yesterday (Monday) when he was working before I went to hawk. He was a motorcyclist, and he plied the routes close to where I live. People just suddenly called me this morning about what happened.

    “He married two wives, but they are not staying with him again. The first one, who gave birth to his first child, is not with him; same with the second one. He stays alone. He would not fight anyone. He would wake up and go to work. He had three children and they are grown-ups. The first should be around 17 or 18 years. She’s a girl.

    “His legs were almost touching the ground. The situation is surprising. Policemen will see it themselves and decide whether he looks like someone who hanged himself, because we don’t understand as well.”

    The branch chairman of the NURTW at Okada Joint 8 on Ayeye-Ibikunle Road in Ibadan, Kabiru Akinwale (Kebe), said he was shocked at the news of Adebisi’s death.

    He said: “He was a member of my unit; I’m the branch chairman. I was working in the morning when some people told me that one of my members had hanged himself. So, I removed my overall and cap and came here and found out it was true.

    “The motorcycle he rode until his death was given to him on hire purchase. His ebenefactor has gone to see his relatives, but the person never disturbed him. He usually carried the person home and he lived close by. The person expected him yesterday (Monday) to take him home but did not see him. When Adebisi owed him money, the owner never complained.

    “But he was a gentle person. We were in the same unit and we’ve been together for quite a while. He would not even disrespect people. He was easy-going. Nobody knows what made him to commit suicide.”

    A co-tenant to deceased, Mrs. Musili Aliu, said: “I don’t know anything about what happened. This is because this man usually came back late at night and would go out early in the morning. If not that his colleagues came this (yesterday) morning, we would not have known anything.

    “When his colleagues came, I even told them that he had gone out, since he usually went out early. I did not know what happened until they went inside and found his body. We live in this house together. He stayed upstairs and I stay downstairs. He lived in his room alone.”

  • Monkey pox patient commits suicide

    Monkey pox patient commits suicide

    •Three cases confirmed
    •Four Lagos cases negative

    A victim of monkey pox receiving treatment at the Niger Delta University Hospital (UNDTH), Okolobiri, Bayelsa State, has committed suicide.

    It was gathered that the victim, whose name was not disclosed, hung himself early yesterday.

    The state government confirmed the development at a joint press conference by commissioners for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson and Health, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu, with the Chief Medical Director, NDUTH, Prof. Dimie Ogoina and other senior health officials.

    Etebu said that the deceased was among the 21 suspected cases of “monkey pox” being managed at the NDUTH.

    He regretted that the patient took his own life despite speedily recovering from the disease.

    Etebu said the patient’s medical history did not suggest any mental illness or depression.

    He maintained that the patient did not die of monkey pox.

    Etebu said the police and his family had been contacted and all due diligence was being followed for his funeral.

    He sympathised with the family and said that a committee would evaluate his past and recent clinical and social history.

    The examination will determine “if there were undisclosed mental illness or personal family problem that could have justified the suicide”.

    Iworiso-Markson urged residents to continue to use preventive measures, such as avoiding bushmeats and other causes of the disease.

    The Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Asinim Butswat, said the death had been reported.

    He, however, said the police were not suspecting any foul play, noting that there were no visible marks of violence other than the rope the patient tied around his neck.

    Three cases of monkey pox have been confirmed after laboratory analysis.

    The cases are all in Bayelsa State where the outbreak was first reported in September.

    Briefing reporters yesterday in Abuja on the outcome of the tests from the World Health Organisation (WHO) reference laboratory in Senegal, Health Minister Prof. Isaac Adewole said only three of the 21 were confirmed positive; 12 were negative.

    Results of two others were being awaited.

    On the suspected outbreak in Lagos, the minister said the four cases turned out negative.

    The minister also noted that further investigations would be carried out on the cases that came out negative to confirm what the ailment is.

    He said: “As at 13th of October 2017, there were 17 suspected cases reported from Yenagoa Local Government in Bayelsa State. We have received laboratory confirmation for monkey pox virus from three of these cases from the WHO Regional Laboratory in Dakar, Senegal. Samples from 12 other cases from Bayelsa were negative.

    “With these results, three suspected monkey pox cases in Yenagoa have been confirmed with laboratory evidence. The most likely source of infection is a primary zoonotic transmission, from an animal, with secondary person-to-person transmission.

    “Since our initial announcement, a total of 43 other suspected cases have been reported from eight other states (Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ekiti, Lagos, Enugu, Nasarawa, Rivers, and FCT).

    “Of these, four cases from Lagos have also been tested and confirmed to be negative for the monkey pox virus.”

    The minister also posited that other cases from other parts of the country might not be caused by monkey pox.

    Adewole said: “We expect that many of these cases being reported from other states in Nigeria are not caused by the Monkey pox virus, but we will continue to investigate all those cases that fit the case definition.”

    He added: “Further laboratory tests using whole genome sequencing are being carried out by the Africa Centre for Genomics and Infectious Diseases in Redeemers University, Ede, Osun State.”

    Adewole also reassured Nigerians that there was no reason to panic as the West African strain of the monkey pox virus is milder, compared to that of East Africa.

    This, he said, explained why there has not been any casualty.

    The minister stressed: “Monkey pox is largely a self-limiting disease, from which all suspected patients that have been reported to date are doing well clinically. Even before this confirmation, all the necessary public health measures have been put in place and will continue to be implemented.”

    On the symptoms, Adewole said: “The monkey pox begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion.  Monkey pox causes lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy) and the incubation period (time from infection to symptoms) for monkey pox is usually 7-14 days but can range from 5-21 days.

    “Specifically, it begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion

    Within one-three days (sometimes longer) after the appearance of fever, the patient develops a rash, often begin on the face, then spread to other parts of the body.”

    The minister urged Nigerians “to remain calm and supportive of public health authorities, avoid self-medication and report to the nearest health facility if feeling unwell or notice any of the above symptoms in anyone around you. It is important to note that there has been no confirmation of monkey pox in any other part of the country, and it is likely that many of the other cases being reported are not caused by the monkey pox virus. Nigerians should continue to be vigilant at all times.

    “Health care workers are strongly advised to always practise universal precautions while handling patients and/or body fluids at all times. They are also urged to be alert, be familiar with the symptoms of monkey pox and maintain a high index of suspicion. All suspected cases should be immediately reported to the local government area or state Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers.”

     

  • Man accused of killing mother commits suicide

    A twenty-eight-year old, Ekene Ezeogo, has allegedly committed suicide after he was accused of killing his mother, Prophetess Mary, who died a few days earlier.

    Prophetess Mary was rushed to hospital when she complained of pains after her son pushed her to the ground while she tried to separate a fight between him and his younger sister.

    The incident happened at their no. 24 Agbaja Road, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State family home.

    It was gathered that after his mother died, Ezeogo reported the matter to the Central Police Station in Abakaliki.

    He, however, fled the station when policemen wanted to arrest him. He ended up at his uncompleted house at Onuebo residential area, where he allegedly drank three bottles of rat poison.

    His elder brother, Chidi, said Ekene was rushed to the emergency unit of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, where he eventually died.

    A neighbour, Mr. Chinedu Sunday, who corroborated Chidi, said when they got news of Ekene’s health condition, they contacted the police, who helped to take him to the hospital.

    Ekene’s half-brother, Onyema lamented that the incident had dragged the family’s name in the mud, saying he never imagined that the deceased could commit suicide at a time when efforts were on to resolve the crisis in the family following their mother’s death.

    Police spokesman Jude Madu said they were yet to get a report of the incident.

  • Woman, 52, commits suicide in Ondo

    A 52-year-old woman, Opeyemi Babatola, has reportedly hanged herself at her home at Aule area of Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    Sources said the husband of the deceased, Pastor Adeolu Babatola, saw her body dangling and reported the incident to the police.

    The cause of her death was unknown at press time last night.

    Babatola, who is in police custody, reportedly discovered his wife’s body when he perceived the foul odour from a room in the house.

    It was gathered that the late Opeyemi told her husband that she was going to a mountain to pray but reportedly went into one of the rooms in the house where she hanged herself.

    A source said: “She told her child and her husband that she wanted to go to a mountain to pray. So, her husband probably thought she was praying on the mountain because it was not her first time of doing so.

    “However, on Monday morning, her husband went to the back of one of the rooms in the other apartment of the house and discovered many house flies by the window. He opened the room and found his wife hanging. He cried out to the neighbours.

    Police spokesman Femi Joseph, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said investigations had begun into the matter.

    He added that the husband of the deceased, Adeolu has been invited to the command for interrogation.

     

  • Father of six ‘commits suicide’ in Bayelsa

    A 43-year-old father of six, Mr. Gbembite Kitchen, yesterday allegedly hanged himself at Vanguard Street, off Imgbi Road, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    Kitchen, from Ekeremor Local Government, allegedly used his bedsheet to hang himself in a room in an uncompleted building where he lived with his family.

    Although he left no suicide note, it was gathered he killed himself out of frustration.

    His wife, Beauty, was reportedly not at home when the deceased, said to be unemployed for years, hanged himself.

    Neighbours said they were shocked.

    Yesterday, the deceased’s wife was surrounded by female sympathisers.

    His children, oblivious of the incident, played in the compound.

    The bedsheet Kitchen converted to a rope to hang himself dangled from the ceiling, while his body was on the floor.

  • Final year UNN student ‘commits’ suicide

    Final year UNN student ‘commits’ suicide

    A final year Agricultural Economics student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Tobechukwu Okeke, was found dead in his off-campus hostel on Sunday.
    The late Tobechukwu allegedly committed suicide because of financial challenges.
    No suicide note was found in his room, but his mates told our reporter that the late Tobechukwu recently expressed frustration over his financial constraints.
    His department was quiet yesterday, following the news; his mates were seen standing in groups, discussing the incident in hush tones.
    There was no lecture for final year students because of the incident.
    Elizabeth Agwu, one of the deceased’s classmates, described him as “easygoing and hardworking”.
    She said: “He was popular in the department because people saw him as a nice guy. He made people laugh and he was one of the best players in the department’s and faculty’s football teams.”
    It was learnt that the late Tobechukwu was absent for lecture for two weeks, a development that left his colleagues wondering what could have happened to him.
    He was said to have been regular at lectures.
    Elizabeth said: “Last week, Tobechukwu called one of our classmates to beg them for money. We don’t know the reason he committed suicide, because he was doing very well in his studies.”
    The Nation gathered that the body was evacuated from the room by a group of men and taken away in a Sienna saloon car at 7:30 p.m on Sunday.
    Contacted, UNN’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Okwun Omeaku, said the university authority could not comment on the incident because it occurred off campus.
    He added: “We are in the know of the development. Even though the victim was our student, there is nothing we can say about it because the incident happened in an off-campus hostel.
    “We will allow the police to do their investigation. The university’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) is aware of the development too. We will issue a statement after police investigation.”

  • UNIBEN final year student commits suicide

    A 27-year old final year student of the University of Benin, identified as David Iyoha, has committed suicide.

    The late Daniel was found dangling from the ceiling in a room at his family residence at 17, Obamwonyi Street, Off Universal Road in Egor Local Government Area of the state.

    Residents in the area are yet to understand what led to the incident, as they described the deceased as easy-going and devout Catholic who hardly missed mass.

    Neighbours said late Daniel washed his clothes, tidied up his room and remained indoors till dusk when he took his own life.

    They said they were surprised that Daniel was at home instead of going to his spare parts shop at Uwelu.

    Family members declined comments, but a source said Daniel locked his room and killed himself with a wrapper tied to a ceiling fan.

    Spokesman for Edo Police Command, DSP Stephen Onwochei, who confirmed the report, said investigation would unravel the motive behind the action.

    He said: “We got the report that one Daniel Iyoha hanged himself with a wrapper on a ceiling fan in his room.

    “When our team of investigators arrived there, and after reviewing the crime scene, the corpse was brought down and moved to a hospital.”