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 February 2022, as reported in the media.
FEBRUARY
CASE ONE
Story Title: Uber driver commits suicide in Lagos
Victim’s Name: Not given
Marital Status: Married
Date: Thursday, February 10
Gender: Male
Age: Not given
Method: Hanging
Reason: Not given
Type: Suicide
Occupation: Uber driver (privately employed)
State Where incident Happened: Lagos
Victim’s State of Origin: Not given
Story Summary:
An Uber driver who is said to be a resident of number 51 Oduntan Street, Ketu, in the Ikosi-Isheri Local Government Area of the state, reportedly took his life in his apartment today February 10.
Reports have it that the deceased waited for his wife to leave home for an appointment before taking his life.
A neighbor of the victim who gave her name as Victoria said that no suicide note was dropped by the man, adding that it was his wife who discovered his body dangling from the ceiling fan and raised the alarm upon her return home.
Source: https://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2022/2/uber-driver-commits-suicide-in-lagos.html
CASE TWO
Story Title: Commercial bus driver dies after setting himself ablaze over the seizure of his vehicle by LASTMA
Victim’s Name: Not given
Marital Status: Married
Date: Tuesday, February 15
Gender: Male
Age: Not given
Method: Setting self ablaze
Reason: Frustration
Type: Suicide
Occupation: Bus driver (privately employed)
State Where incident Happened: Lagos
Victim’s State of Origin: Not given
Story Summary:
A commercial vehicle driver, yesterday, set himself ablaze in Ajao Estate area of Lagos, to protest seizure of his bus by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA.
Eyewitnesses said the driver whose identity could not be immediately ascertained was arrested for alleged traffic offence.
Two LASTMA officials were said to have dragged him out of the vehicle and started the ignition for onward movement to their base at Oshodi.
As they were about moving, the driver, according to eyewitnesses, poured fuel on his body and struck a stick of matches.
CASE THREE
Story Title: Mentally-Challenged Man Jumps To His Death After Being Set Ablaze By Angry Mob
Victim’s Name: Not given
Marital Status: Not given
Date: Tuesday, February 15
Gender: Male
Age: Not given
Method: Jumped off bridge (others)
Reason: Frustration/mentally deranged
Type: Suicide
Occupation: Bus driver (privately employed)
State Where incident Happened: Lagos
Victim’s State of Origin: Not given
Story Summary:
A mentally-deranged man suspected to be a kidnapper jumped to death in Molete area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Tuesday while trying to escape an angry mob that had set him ablaze.
Before the incident, the mentally-deranged man was reportedly sighted receiving a package from unidentified persons in a private vehicle on the Molete overhead bridge.
Source:https://tribuneonlineng.com/mentally-deranged-man-jumps-to-death-while-escaping-mob-in-ibadan/
CASE FOUR
Story Title: 18-Year-Old SS3 Boy Commits Suicide After His Father Refused to Allow Him Marry The Love of His Life
Victim’s Name: Abdullahi Tasi’u
Marital Status: Single
Date: Friday, February 18 (reported)
Gender: Male
Age: 18
Method: Poisonous substance (sniper)
Reason: Frustration
Type: Suicide
Occupation: Student
State Where incident Happened: Lagos
Victim’s State of Origin: Not given
Story Summary:
An 18-year-old man, Abdullahi Tasi’u has reportedly committed suicide.
According to Salemgists, Tasi’u took his own life after his father refused to allow him marry the love of his life.
The deceased before his death was an SS3 student of Kafur secondary school.
The source further stated that the teenager’s father told him to be patient and wait till he graduates from secondary school before he will get a wife for him.
Source:https://tribuneonlineng.com/mentally-deranged-man-jumps-to-death-while-escaping-mob-in-ibadan/
CASE FIVE
Story Title: 14-year-old mentally ill boy commits suicide in Bauchi
Victim’s Name: Sadisu Haruna
Marital Status: Single
Date: Friday, February 18
Gender: Male
Age: 14
Method: Hanging
Reason: Mental health challenge
Type: Suicide
Occupation: Not given
State Where incident Happened: Bauchi
Victim’s State of Origin: Not given
Story Summary:
A 14-year-old boy committed suicide at Dadin Kowa Street in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi state, as confirmed by the state police command.
The command’s spokesperson, Ahmed Wakil said the incident which happened on Friday February 18, was reported by the father of the victim, Haruna Shuaibu, a 38-year old, at the Ninigi Divisional Police Headquarters.
Source:https://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2022/2/14-year-old-mentally-ill-boy-commits-suicide-in-bauchi-2.html
CASE SIX
Story Title: Young Man Commits Suicide After Losing ₦1.5 Million In His Bet Account
Victim’s Name: Daniel Ayuba Mark
Marital Status: Single
Date: (Before February 28, though reported March 1)
Gender: Male
Age: 27
Method: Not given
Reason: Depression
Type: Suicide
Occupation: Not given
State Where incident Happened: Kaduna
Victim’s State of Origin: Not given
Story Summary:
A man identified as Daniel Ayuba Mark has reportedly committed suicide.
It was gathered that the young man took his own life in Kaduna state after losing N1.5 million in his bet account.
He took to Twitter to announce that a scammer gained access to his account and withdrew the huge amount of money.
In series of tweets, he detailed his followers on his movements, from losing money from his bet account, to depression and suicide.
Source:https://www.tori.ng/news/195070/young-man-commits-suicide-after-losing-15-million.html