The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Suicide

  • Albino commits suicide over ‘discrimination’

    A 23-year-old albino Ugochukwu Ekwe yesterday committed suicide in Festac area of Lagos for allegedly being discriminated against by people.

    The incident occurred at 311 Road, B Close, after the deceased’s parents have gone to church.

    It was alleged that the deceased had attempted suicide last month, after complaining of the discrimination he suffered from people as a result of his pigmentation.

    He was said to have been rescued by a friend who arrived early enough, but he succeeded yesterday after refusing to follow his parents to church.

    A source in the neighbourhood told The Nation that his parents discovered his body hanging on the ceiling fan when they returned from church.

    He said: “On arrival from church, his parents were shocked to discover the body of their son hanging on the ceiling fan in one of the apartments. One of his siblings was said to have raised alarm which attracted curious neighbours.

    “I was returning from church when I saw people gathered in front of the block of flats. When I enquired, I was told that Ugochukwu had committed suicide.

    “He finished his secondary school in 2009. I also learned he had threatened to take his life, saying he was frustrated.

    “Later, we saw some policemen from Festac division who removed the body.”

    When contacted, spokesperson for the police command, DSP Patricia Amadin said she was yet to get details from the Area ‘E’ Commander, Frank Mba.

  • Albino commits suicide over alleged discrimination

    For allegedly being discriminated against, a 23-year-old albino, Ugochukwu Ekwe on Sunday committed suicide in the Festac area of Lagos State.
    The incident occurred at 311 Road, B Close‎, after the deceased’s parents went to church.
    ‎It was alleged that the deceased had attempted suicide last month after complaining of the discrimination he suffered from people as a result of his pigmentation.
    He was said to have been rescued by a friend who arrived early enough, but he succeeded on Sunday after refusing to follow his parents to church, it was learnt.
    A source in the neighbourhood told The Nation that his parents discovered his body hanging on the ceiling fan when they returned from church.
    He said: “On arrival from church, his parents were shocked to discover the body of their son hanging from the ceiling fan in one of the apartments.
    “One of his siblings was said to have raised alarm which attracted curious neighbours.
    “I was returning from church when I saw people gathered in front of the block of flats. When I enquired, I was told that Ugochukwu had committed suicide.
    “He finished his secondary school education since 2009. I also learned he had threatened to take his life, saying he was frustrated.”
    “Later, we saw some policemen from Festac division who removed the body.”
    When contacted, spokesperson for the police command, DSP Patricia Amadin said she was yet to get details from the Area ‘E’ Commander, Frank Mba.

  • Man who attempted suicide with acid need help

    Man who attempted suicide with acid need help

    A 30-year –old man, Taiwo Eko who attempted suicide by drinking a raw motor battery acid in 2011 over what he described as helpless condition, is now urgently in need of medical attention to survive the damages done to himself.

    He bought N400 acid from road side mechanic whom he lied that he was going to use it for important experiment and ended up using himself as the experiment material with an excuse that he had no parent or anybody to assist him in life.

    Taiwo, after attempting to take his life damaged his throat and his voice cracked. His tongue was also affected which made him not to speak louder to the hearing of anyone in the same room with him except the person draw closer.

    The Delta State born Taiwo who now eat through the assistance of naso -gasgric tube (GNB) and artificial oxygen for his breathing, said he had been treated both in Nigeria and India yet his condition is getting worse on daily basis.

    He said Apollo Hospital in India treated him to the extent that he no longer breath with artificial oxygen or eat through tube, adding that he was surprised and confused that when he returned to Nigeria everything got worse.

    Taiwo pleaded with the State and Federal government to return him back to India where he had contacted a doctor who promised to save his life. He noted that his major problem is fund since he has no parent or working to earn income.

    Narrating how he attempted to take his life, Taiwo said “I drank acid; I wanted to kill myself because I was not happy with my condition. I have no parent and I have being suffering for many years without help.  I went to mechanic workshop to get the acid with N400 but the acid didn’t end my life the way I wanted.

    “The people who rushed me to the hospital said I was already dead, that the first hospital rejected me. I was referred to Eko Hospital in Delta State and nothing happened. They took me to University of Benin Teaching Hospital where I stayed a year and six months.

    “But later the Hospital management changed their mind to perform surgery on me. As God want it, I met Dr. Richard Okonye, a man of God who volunteered to take me to India where I got treated.  But when I came back to Nigeria my condition got worse.  I called one of the doctors in India and he said I should come to India, but I don’t have money to travel abroad. I am begging Nigerians to help me.”

     

  • Man commits suicide in Ondo

    Man commits suicide in Ondo

    A man, Damilola Ibitokun, has reportedly hung himself at Ori-Oke farm in Ero town, Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    Sources said Ibitokun, popularly called Seven Feet, because of his height, was sighted by neighbours and passers-by on his way to the farm.

    He was said to be shouting that he was going to commit suicide, holding a rope in one hand and a sharp knife in another.

    It was learnt that efforts to dissuade him failed because he threatened everyone with the knife.

    Sources said most people did not take him serious because he was a drunk.

    His widow, Muibat, said she and the deceased had been sleeping in a church in the last few months because of an undisclosed family problem.

    According to her, her husband left the church on Tuesday evening on the excuse that he was tired of sleeping in the church.

    She said: “We’ve been sleeping in the church for some time now.

    “But on Tuesday evening, he just decided that he was going home to sleep.

    “In the middle of the night, he rushed back to the church, shouting and banging the door.

    “He asked for the whereabouts of the man who was fighting me. But I told him nobody was fighting me.

    “He went back home. But some minutes later, some of our neighbours called me that my husband was shouting and running around that he was going to commit suicide and that nobody should stop him.”

    The deceased’s son, Ayomide, described his father’s death as shocking.

    He said his father was restless throughout the night, until he took his life.

    The remains of the deceased have been buried after some rituals were performed by the community.

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  • BSU medical student did not commit suicide

    SIR: Since the death of Idoko Nicholas, a 400 Level medical student of the College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi in a ghastly motor accident on Friday, July 24, there has been growing controversy surrounding his death and protests were held by his colleagues to show their discontent.

    Nicholas has spent well over 10 years as a medical student in the university. That is the lot of all the medical students of that institution. Since the inception of medical studies, no student has graduated. Plans are only on the way to graduate the first set of students later this year. That will however be possible only when the final accreditation team pays a visit.

    The policy in the college is that a student who fails an examination will have to re-sit such examination within three months. However, the new provost said the college does not have money to conduct such examinations within three months. It made it an annual exercise. Nicholas had issues with Pharmacology and Pathology. He wrote the exams a few weeks ago, and the result came out negative and was therefore withdrawn from studying medicine. After 10 years? It is frustrating!

    Despite his seeming frustration, Nicholas remained his vivacious self. There was no dull moments when he was around, and he tried not to foul such atmosphere with his problems. That unfortunate day, he visited his friend and there was no sign he was going to die in few hours time. They joked, discussed and words of encouragement were shared. In fact, his friends mother called him (Nicholas) that day and encouraged him.

    He made to leave, to go get something. His friend asked him to stay longer, but he insisted on leaving.

    While on the International Market road in Makurdi, he tried to avoid a truck which was parked beside the road, and then the unfortunate happened. He was thrown out of his car through the windscreen.

    I spoke several times yesterday with his friends and colleagues. One thing that featured in my conversation with them, is that Idoko Nicholas was not suicidal. He did NOT kill himself. The protest held on Friday and Saturday was aimed at  bringing the plight of medical students to the fore, and not because Nicholas killed himself. Their protest paid off, as the Vice Chancellor has cancelled any form of withdrawal.

    It is unfortunate Idoko Nicholas had to die for a new policy to be implemented. He was martyred for his colleagues in the medical school

    Yes, Idoko was probably distracted by his problems while driving, but he Did NOT kill himself.

    It shows lack of consideration for his grieving family and friends, if we continue to allude his death to suicide.

    Finally, I urge the management of Benue State University to take issues affecting their students with the seriousness it deserves. Students of the medical school have all been making motion without movement. That is unfair. Let it do what is required to ensure medical students graduate and move on with life, instead of just keeping them there.

     

    • Frank Ijege

    frankijege@yahoo.com

  • 19 dead, 47 injured in suicide attack

    19 dead, 47 injured in suicide attack

    Nineteen people have been confirmed dead in a suicide attack on a market in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.

    Forty-seven were injured and hospitalised at the Gen. Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital.

    One of the deceased was identified as a female vigilance group member, who was screening the people entering the market. She was said to have died when the bomb went off.

    The Medical Director of Gen. Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital, Dr. Garba Fika, told our correspondent that 19 people were confirmed dead and 47 injured.

    He said two of the injured were undergoing surgery, while another two were referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru for advanced medical care.

    Police spokesman Toyin Gbadegesin said the explosive was triggered by a teenage girl.

    The attack, according to an eyewitness, was orchestrated by a female suicide bomber, who detonated the explosive on her body.

    The attack occurred about 9:30am at the popular Sunday Market.

    Mohammed Ali, a vigilance group member in Damaturu, said the female bomber pretended to be queuing behind a truck pusher, who was being checked into the market and in the process, detonated the explosive, which killed the female vigilance group member, who was screening the people entering the market.

    He dismissed a report that the bomber was a mentally-ill woman.

    Red Cross and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) officials corroborated the casualty figure.

    The Northeast Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Mohammed Kanar, told our reporter in Damaturu that a combined team of Red Cross officials, NEMA and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) had evacuated bodies and taken the injured to the Gen. Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital.

    An officer with the Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD) said five un-detonated explosives were recovered from the bag of the suicide bomber.

    Governor Ibrahim Gaidam condemned the attack, describing it as callous, barbaric and unjustifiable.

    In a statement by his Director of Press, Abdullahi Bego, the governor said free medical care would be given to the injured.

  • Update: 19 dead, 47 injured in fresh Damaturu suicide attack

    Update: 19 dead, 47 injured in fresh Damaturu suicide attack

    At least 19 people have been confirmed dead in the suicide attack on a market in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.
    Another 47 are lying critically injured at the General Sani Abatcha Specialist Hospital.
    One of the dead people was identified as a female vigilante who was screening people into the market. She was said to have died instantly as the bomb went off.
    The Medical Director of Gen. Sani Abatcha Specialist Hospital Dr. Garba Fika confirmed the casualty figure to our correspondent.
    He added that two of the victims are undergoing surgery while another two have been referred to Federal Medical Centre Nguru for advance medical care.
    ” From the report that I got, we have 19 dead bodies and 47 injured. Two of the victims are going for surgery while another two have been moved to Federal Medical Centre Nguru,” Dr. Fika stated.
    The Yobe State Police Public Relation Officer ASP Toyin Gbadegesin said the explosive was triggered by a teenage girl of about ten years old.
    He also dismissed speculations that no arrest have been made in connection with the attack.
    The attack according to eyewitness was led by a female suicide bomber who diffused her explosive cladded body that sent a loud sound across the city.
    The attack occurred at about 9.30 am at the popular Sunday Market which is one of the most well attending markets in the metropolis that normally on Sunday.
    Mohammed Ali a vigilante in Damaturu informed that the female bomber pretended to be waiting behind a truck pusher who was being checked on his way into the market and in the process exploded killing their female member who was screening people into the market.
    He dismissed reports that the bomber was a mad woman who was identified.
    “Whoever told you that the bomber is mad is a lie. She is not a mad woman. Nobody knows her around here. No one has seen her before. She came and stood at the back of one kus-kus(local wheelbarrow) that our people were checking. Before they could finish with the kus-kus, she diffused the bomb killing all these people that you see here.
    “Look at that woman,(pointing to one of the female dead bodies)she is our member who was at the gate of the market when the explosion went off,” he informed.

  • Man, 60, commits suicide

    60-year-old man yesterday reportedly hung himself inside a room at Oke Aro, Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    It was learnt that the deceased, who was identified as Dayo, took the decision out of frustration.

    Sources said he found it extremely difficult to feed his family.

    His remains were discovered in the boys’ quarters of a rented apartment on Idanre Road in the state capital.

    It was learnt that the father of four has been having problems with the owners of the vehicles he was driving for commercial purpose.

    He was said to have been sacked by two of his employers over some issues that had to do with daily remittance.

    His inability to secure another job, sources said, pushed him over the edge.

    It was learnt that the deceased’s wife and her late husband were living apart.

    Police spokesman Wole Ogodo said detectives have begun investigation.

    sHe said the deceased left a suicide note instructing his wife and children not to arrest anybody over his death.

  • Mother of three commits suicide in Ekiti

    There was gloom in Ajebamidele area of Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital where a 46-year-old woman, identified as Mrs. Ajibola reportedly committed suicide.

    Mrs. Ajibola, a mother of three, hanged herself Tuesday at about 6.00 pm under very mysterious circumstances, a situation her neighbours find difficult to unravel.

    Neighbours revealed that Mrs. Ajibola had made several attempts to take her life in the past which had made them to place her under watch but the suicide came when they least expected.

    Her corpse has since been deposited at mortuary of Mary Assumpta Catholic Hospital, Ajilosun Road pending the burial of her remains.

    Neighbours, family members and friends of the deceased were also sighted at the Ologede Police Station along Ikere Road but police officers on duty kept sealed lips saying only Public Relations Department of the State Command could speak on the incident.

    A neighour said: “Before the unfortunate incident, she had informed landlords in the area of her intention to address a world press conference slated for 6.30pm.

    “It was when some of us arrived to listen to what she had to tell us that we discovered that she was nowhere to be found.

    “It was when we were searching for her that we saw her dangling body hung on the roof in her house.”

    “Many times, she had threatened to take her own life. There was even a time she said she would jump into the well and we had to announce to all landlords that they should make sure that their wells are well secured and covered to avoid any mishap.”

    Police spokesman, Alberto Adeyemi who confirmed the incident, revealed that the Command has commenced investigation into the incident.

  • Update: Suicide bomber kills 3, injures 5 in Maiduguri

    Update: Suicide bomber kills 3, injures 5 in Maiduguri

    A male suicide bomber in the early hours of Saturday killed himself, two others and left five passersby wounded in Maiduguri.
    Police authorities in Borno State informed that that two suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers carried out the attack in a tricyle at about 7. 00am.
    The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Aderemi Opadukun said “There was an IED explosion at about 0700 hrs today by the Welcome to Maiduguri Gate; and near the office of the State Department of Security Services (SSS) and El-Kanemi Theological College, Maiduguri.”
    He said the suspects had wanted to target the Borno Express Motor Park, which has high peak of travelers between the early morning hours.
    Eyewitness, Sani Modu said the suicide bomber diffused the bomb on the tricycle along with two other persons or passengers.
    He said, “when the heavy sound echoed, the entire place was thrown into confusion and tension became high as both vehicular and human movements were immediately disrupted.
    People who are alive started running away from the scene while motorists and tricyclists coming from both sides of the dual carriageway had to make u turn.
    Some packed and waited to see for themselves what happened while only a few courageous people to approached the remains of the suicide bombers and tricycle as everything got into pieces and scattered on the road,” Modu narrated.
    He informed that a combined team of security and rescue SSS officials arrived, NEMA, Soldiers and Red Cross immediately came to the scene to clear the road to allow people pass.
    The blast caused heavy gridlock on both sides of the dual carriageway disrupting activities at the El Kanemi School and Borno Express.
    Sources at the State Specialist Hospital Maiduguri confirmed that about 5 people were brought in to the accident and emergency unit of the hospital for treatment and have since been discharged.
    The remains of the two dead people were brought to the mortuary by NEMA and Civilian JTF officials.