People experience suicidal thoughts due to various reasons such as frustration, depression, failed relationship, mental health challenge, academic failure, among others. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 1 million people die each year from suicide. It is difficult to anticipate suicide in most instances and this makes it a terribly dangerous menace in any society. What drives so many individuals to take their own lives remains a serious puzzle though depression is at the center of the probable cause, according to scholars and counselors. The fact is that a suicidal person is in so much pain that he or she can see no other option. Suicide is a desperate attempt to escape suffering that has become unbearable. A suicidal person is often blinded by feelings of self-loathing, helplessness, hopelessness, and isolation. The person hardly sees any way of finding relief except through death.
Nigeria witnessed an unprecedented spate of suicides in 2019, especially with media coverage of such incidents. Some schools of thought have argued that suicide incidents had existed in Nigeria possibly on a large scale but most of such incidents were never reported in the media. Well, 2019 saw a number of incidents reported in social and mainstream media. But 2020 witnessed a slight drop in suicide incidents in Nigeria as reported in the media. Also, the leading method of suicide shifted from use of sniper insecticide which came tops in 2019, to hanging which topped in 2020 including 2021and 2022. We continue our record on suicide incidents in 2023.
Here is a list of suicide incidents in Nigeria reported in April;
CASE ONE
Story Title: Stanley Nwanne: Final year medical student commits suicide
Victim’s Name: Stanley Nwanne
Marital Status: Single
Date: Wednesday, April 12
Gender: Male
Age: Not given
Method: Hanging
Reason: Not given
Type: Suicide
Occupation: Student
State Where incident Happened: Cross River
Victim’s State of Origin: Not given
Story Summary:
Stanley Nwanne, a final year student at the University of Calabar’s Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, has committed suicide, according to multiple sources.
Nwanne on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, reportedly committed suicide at his flat outside the University campus.
His body was discovered by his cousin, who noticed him dangling in the toilet with a rope around his neck and immediately notified neighbours.
He was brought to the hospital and declared dead by the attending doctor. The reason for his suicide remains unknown.
Source: Chronicle NG
CASE TWO
Story Title: Edo farmer hacks wife with cutlass, commits suicide
Victim’s Name: Friday Omosigho
Marital Status: Married
Date: Friday, April 28
Gender: Male
Age: Not given
Method: Sniper
Reason: Failed relationship (infidelity)
Type: Suicide
Occupation: Farmer
State Where incident Happened: Edo
Victim’s State of Origin: Edo
Story Summary:
A farmer, Friday Omosigho, has committed suicide after attacking his wife with a machete on the farm and leaving her in a pool of blood in Benin City, Edo State.
A source said the incident happened at Ehiozevbaru Village in the Uhunmwode Local Government Area of the state….
The Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, Chidi Nwabuzor, who confirmed the incident, said the man drank a substance suspected to be the insecticide, ‘sniper.’
Source: Punch