Monthly Media Reports on Suicide Incidents in Nigeria – January 2022

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.

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. Hanging also took the lead in 2022. We continue our record on suicide incidents in 2022.

Here’s a list of suicide incidents that occurred in January 2022, as reported in the media.

CASE ONE

Story Title: Prison official shoots self dead over inability to pay bills

Victim’s Name: Kayode Adeniyi

Marital Status: Not given

Date: Friday, January 7 (reported)

Gender: Male

Age: Not given

Method: Gun shot

Reason: Inability to pay bills (frustration/depression)

Type: Suicide

Occupation: Prison Officer

State Where incident Happened: Ondo

Victim’s State of Origin: Not given

Story Summary:

A prison officer, identified as Kayode Adeniyi, attached to the Correctional Centre in Ondo town, Ondo state has reportedly committed suicide over his inability to pay house rent and meet other financial obligations.

Vanguard gathered that the deceased was attached to the Segede  Correctional Centre in Ondo West council area of the state.

He reportedly shot himself in the head in his room and died instantly.

Sources said the deceased has complained severally that neighbours and other residents in the street where he resides always make jest of him for his inability to pay his house rent, electricity bill and meet his financial obligations.

Source: Vanguard

CASE TWO

Story Title: Banker allegedly commits suicide in Delta a day after posting “I no longer have a mind of my own because I do things I later regret” on Facebook

Victim’s Name: Nwokorie Nnamdi

Marital Status: Not given

Date: Sunday, January 16

Gender: Male

Age: Not given

Method: Hanging

Reason: Frustration/Depression

Type: Suicide

Occupation: Banker

State Where incident Happened: Delta

Victim’s State of Origin: Not given

Story Summary:

A staff of one of a new generation bank identified as Nwokorie Nnamdi Godson, has allegedly committed suicide by hanging in Sapele, Delta state.

It was gathered that the deceased died after hanging himself on a water tank scaffold at Ugbeyiyi community on Sunday, January 16.

Source: Lindaikejiblog

CASE THREE

Story Title: IDP Commits Suicide After Being R*ped By NGO Official

Victim’s Name: Aisha Umar

Marital Status: Not given

Date: Sunday, January 19 (reported)

Gender: Female

Age: Not given

Method: Knife stab

Reason: Frustration/Depression

Type: Suicide

Occupation: Privately employed

State Where incident Happened: Borno

Victim’s State of Origin: Not given

Story Summary:

Aisha Umar, a female Internally Displaced Person (IDP) in Borno State, has taken her life after allegedly being raped by an official of an International Non-Governmental Organisation (name withheld).

The deceased, who was into menial jobs for survival, was reportedly lured to the apartment of the suspect at 303 Housing Estate, near Dalori IDP camp, Maiduguri, under the guise of cleaning the place.

Source: Daily Trust

CASE FOUR

Story Title: 25-year-old man hangs himself in Jigawa

Victim’s Name: Nasiru Badamasi

Marital Status: Married

Date: Monday, January 25

Gender: Male

Age: 25

Method: Hanging

Reason: Not given

Type: Suicide

Occupation: Privately employed

State Where incident Happened: Jigawa

Victim’s State of Origin: Not given

Story Summary:

A 25-year-old man identified as Nasiru Badamasi, has committed suicide by hanging himself on a tree at Tsadawa village in Taura local Government area of Jigawa State.

The District head of Tsadawa village, Alhaji muttaka Uba, confirmed the incident to DAILY POST.

He said the incident happened Monday night on a farm near Zangon Maje village.

Uba said the victim, a married man with a daughter, decided to kill himself for a reason best known to him.

Source: Daily Post