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 2022.
Here is a list of suicide incidents that were reported by the media in June, 2022.
CASE ONE
Story Title: Man Commits Suicide In Jigawa After His Girlfriend Married Another Man
Victim’s Name: Ibrahim Adamu Mohd
Marital Status: Single
Date: Sunday, June 12
Gender: Male
Age: 42
Method: Hanging
Reason: Failed relationship
Type: Suicide
Occupation: Not given
State Where incident Happened: Jigawa
Victim’s State of Origin: Kano
Story Summary:
A 42-Year-Old Man Identified as Ibrahim Adamu Mohd, has committed suicide by hanging at Kanti quarters in Kazaure Local Government Area of Jigawa State after his girlfriend married another man.
It was gathered that residents of Kanti woke up on Sunday morning, June 12, and found the man with a rope around his neck, dangling from a tree.
Spokesperson of the Jigawa State Police Command, DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam, who confirmed the incident on Monday, said the deceased is an indigene of Gayawa village in Ungogo LGA of Kano State.
Source: Linda Ikeji Blog
CASE TWO
Story Title: Lagos tenant rapes neighbour’s 16-year-old daughter, commits suicide
Victim’s Name: Kayode
Marital Status: Not given
Date: Wednesday, June 15
Gender: Male
Age: Not given
Method: Insecticide (sniper)
Reason: Not given
Type: Suicide
Occupation: Not given
State Where incident Happened: Lagos
Victim’s State of Origin: Not given
Story Summary:
A man, identified only as Kayode, has committed suicide after his neighbour’s daughter accused him of raping her twice at their house in the Oja-Amukoko area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the victim’s mother, who had a stroke, was taken to the Ikorodu area for treatment.
The suspect, who was put in care of the 16-year-old at home, was said to have taken advantage of her.
Her father said she accused Kayode of raping her twice, adding that he also seized her phone to prevent her from informing her family members.
Source: Punch
CASE THREE
Story Title: Man jilted by lover commits suicide
Victim’s Name: Not given
Marital Status: Single
Date: Wednesday, June 18 (reported)
Gender: Male
Age: 25
Method: Poisonous substance (sniper)
Reason: Failed relationship
Type: Suicide
Occupation: Factory worker
State Where incident Happened: Abia
Victim’s State of Origin: Not given
Story Summary:
A 25 year old factory worker in Aba, Abia State, has committed suicide after being dumped by a female colleague he was in love with for five years.
The deceased, whose name was not immediately known, was said to have taken a poisonous substance on Wednesday night, leaving a suicide note on why had to take his own life after her lover, who incidentally worked in the same manufacturing plant with him, in Okpu Umuobo area of Osisioma Council Area of Aba metropolis, cut off their five year old relationship to marry another man.
Source: Sun News Online
CASE FOUR
Story Title: “May this day bring me rest and peace” Photographer reportedly commits suicide after leaving a note in Abuja
Victim’s Name: Emmanuel Omole
Marital Status: Single
Date: Friday, June 24 (reported)
Gender: Male
Age: Not given
Method: Not given
Reason: Depression
Type: Suicide
Occupation: Photographer
State Where incident Happened: Abuja
Victim’s State of Origin: Not given
Story Summary:
A photographer identified as Emmanuel Omole has reportedly committed suicide.
He took his life at his residence in Abuja.
He left a two-page note before he committed suicide. In the note, he spoke about his struggles.
Source: Linda Ikeji Blog
CASE FIVE
Story Title: Father of 8 commits suicide in Abia
Victim’s Name: Offor
Marital Status: Married
Date: Monday, June 27
Gender: Male
Age: Not given
Method: Drowned inside GP Tank
Reason: Not given
Type: Suicide
Occupation: Not given
State Where incident Happened: Abia
Victim’s State of Origin: Anambra
Story Summary:
A father of eight, whose name was given as Offor, has reportedly committed suicide inside his compound at Umuozuo, a suburb of Aba, Abia State.
Offor, who hailed from Ula, Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, but resided at Umuozuo, was said to have taken his life Monday night.
Reports from the area said the man had moments before his suicide conducted prayers together with his family.
His wife and the children were said to have retired to bed after prayers, with the intention their breadwinner did the same, only to wake up the following morning and he was nowhere to be found.
It was gathered that when the family members raised the alarm over the whereabouts of their father, neighbours conducted a search and Offor’s corpse was found inside a GP water tank in his compound.
Source: Sun News Online