Monthly Media Reports on Suicide Incidents in Nigeria – May 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.

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.

One suicide incident occurred in May 2022, as reported in the media.

MAY

CASE ONE

Story Title: Female accountant commits suicide in Lagos

Victim’s Name: Afolake Abiola

Marital Status: Single

Date: Friday, May 27

Gender: Female

Age: 47

Method: Sniper

Reason: Depression

Type: Suicide

Occupation: Accountant

State Where incident Happened: Lagos

Victim’s State of Origin: Not given

Story Summary:

An Account with one of the biggest Communication companies in Lagos has allegedly committed suicide at Osapa London area of Lekki in Lagos.

47-year-old Afolake Abiola, committed suicide by allegedly drinking ‘chemical substance’ on Friday, May 27, 2022, at her residence, number 1 Abayomi Kukomi close in Osapa London, Lekki. in Lagos

A Police source said the lady may have killed herself out of depression as she was single, and childless .

Source: Sunnewsonline