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. We continue our record on suicide incidents in 2021.
Here’s a list of suicide incidents that occurred in August 2021, as reported in the media.
CASE ONE
Story Title: 400 level Unilorin student commits suicide after two failed attempts
Victim’s Name: Elijah Jude Anuoluwapo
Marital Status: Single
Date: Thursday, 26
Gender: Male
Age: Not given
Method: Illicit drug substance
Reason: Depression
Type: Suicide
Occupation: Student
State Where incident Happened: Kwara
Victim’s State of Origin: Not given
Story Summary:
A student of the University of Ilorin identified as Elijah Jude Anuoluwapo, has reportedly committed suicide early Thursday morning by taking illicit drug substances.
The Tribune Online gathered that the deceased, popularly known as Jude, died in the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), where he was rushed by his colleagues for medical attention.
It was gathered that Jude had unsuccessfully tried to commit suicide on two occasions.
Source: Tribune online
CASE TWO
Story Title: Sad! Girl drinks sniper & dies after her boyfriend jilted her
Victim’s Name: Mirabel
Marital Status: Single
Date: Sunday, 29 (Reported)
Gender: Female
Age: Not given
Method: Sniper
Reason: Failed relationship
Type: Suicide
Occupation: Student
State Where incident Happened: Not given
Victim’s State of Origin: Not given
Story Summary:
A Nigerian Lady yet to be identified is said to have did an outrageous thing due to heartbreak she suffered from relationships. It was gathered that the Nigerian Lady poisoned herself by drinking sniper, because the love of her Life, boyfriend broke up with her.
She was immediately rushed to the hospital for medical attention as she could be seen battling with her life in the uploaded video as the poison went deep into her body. But it was gathered that she couldn’t survive it.
Source: Livetimesng
CASE THREE
Story Title: 13 year old girl allegedly commits suicide in Edo
Victim’s Name: Precious Iwezoa
Marital Status: Single
Date: Saturday, 7
Gender: Female
Age: 13
Method: Hanging
Reason: Not given
Type: Suicide
Occupation: Student
State Where incident Happened: Edo
Victim’s State of Origin: Not given
Story Summary:
A thirteen-year-old girl, Precious Iwezoa has allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself to death in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo state.
According to Channels TV, a neighbour found Precious’s dead body hanging with a rope inside her grandmother’s residence on Saturday at Number 6 Osagie Street, Off Lucky Way Road and and immediately alerted her family about the incident.
Source: Within Nigeria News
https://www.withinnigeria.com/news/2021/08/09/13-year-old-girl-allegedly-commits-suicide-in-edo/
CASE FOUR
Story Title: TASUED fresh graduate allegedly commits suicide over possible carryover
Victim’s Name: Oshokoya Deborah Ayomikun
Marital Status: Single
Date: Wednesday, 11
Gender: Female
Age: Not given
Method: Sniper
Reason: Academic challenge
Type: Suicide
Occupation: Student
State Where incident Happened: Ogun
Victim’s State of Origin: Not given
Story Summary:
A fresh graduate of the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) Ijagun, Ogun State, Oshokoya Deborah Ayomikun, has allegedly committed suicide.
The Adult Education graduate who recently finished her final year exams, allegedly died after taking poisonous substance suspected to be sniper.
Though details of the incident was still sketchy as at the time of filing this report, it was gathered that that she allegedly took her own life because of a possible extra year due to carryover in one of her final year courses.
TASUED SUG President, Comr Rabiu Sodiq, who confirmed the incident on Wednesday, August 11, advised students against taking such drastic action no matter the challenges life throws their ways.
Source: Lindaikejiblog
CASE FIVE
Story Title: UNIZIK student commits suicide over alleged hike in school fees
Victim’s Name: David Ogbonna
Marital Status: Single
Date: Sunday, 22 (reported)
Gender: Male
Age: Not given
Method: Hanging
Reason: Frustration
Type: Suicide
Occupation: Student
State Where incident Happened: Anambra
Victim’s State of Origin: Abia
Story Summary:
A 200-Level student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, has reportedly committed suicide over an alleged hike in school fees.
The deceased, a native of the Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, was said to be studying Industrial Physics.
His body was reportedly found dangling inside one of the hostel blocks on campus.
A source who preferred anonymity said, “The deceased locked himself inside the room for days and was sobbing over his inability to pay the new regime of school fees introduced by the management,” adding, “when the door was broken, he was seen dangling with a rope around his neck.”
Another source, who described the deceased as a quiet and calm student, said he never showed any signs of depression before the incident.
Source: Punch
CASE SIX
Story Title: Evangelist’s husband commits suicide in Ondo
Victim’s Name: Moshood Lasisi
Marital Status: Single
Date: Wednesday, 18 (published)
Gender: Male
Age: 62
Method: Hanging
Reason: Not given
Type: Suicide
Occupation: Not given
State Where incident Happened: Ondo
Victim’s State of Origin: Not given
Story Summary:
A 62-year-old man has committed suicide by hanging in Ondo State.
The deceased, a husband to a popular evangelist in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State took his own life at their Ayede-Ogbese home.
The deceased identified as Moshood Lasisi, who was said to have been using crutches to aide his movement due leg issues he had been battling for a while hung himself when his wife and children had gone to the farm.
Source: Daily Post
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