Monthly Media Reports on Suicide Incidents in Nigeria –February 2023

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.

Only one suicide incident was reported in February.

CASE ONE

Story Title: 300 Woman sets self ablaze over inability to repay N70,000 micro-credit loan in Ogun

Victim’s Name: Oluwapelumi Joseph Olona

Marital Status: Single

Date: Saturday, February 18

Gender: Female

Age: Not given (Middle aged)

Method: Burnt herself to death.

Reason: Financial challenge (frustration)

Type: Suicide

Occupation: Not given

State Where incident Happened: Ogun

Victim’s State of Origin: Not given

Story Summary:

Tragedy struck in Oke-Keesi, Itoko area of Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Saturday as a middle-aged woman, simply known as Mama Dada, set herself ablaze in her rented apartment.

Vanguard gathered that the deceased committed suicide over her inability to repay a loan she took from a microfinance bank (name withheld).

The woman’s remains were burnt beyond recognition and the entire building was also razed.

A source, Rasheed Aina, who resides near the deceased’s residence, said: “The woman killed herself because of her inability to repay a loan she took from a microfinance bank.

“From the information I gathered from her neighbour, the loan was to the tune of N70,000.”

Source: Vanguard