Monthly Media Reports on Suicide Incidents in Nigeria – November 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.

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

CASE ONE

Story Title: Young man reportedly commits suicide in Kaduna

Victim’s Name: Ebuka Francis Ugwu

Marital Status: Single

Date: Monday, November 7

Gender: Male

Age: Not given

Method: Poisonous substance (Insecticide)

Reason: Frustration

Type: Suicide

Occupation: Not given

State Where incident Happened: Kaduna

Victim’s State of Origin: Enugu

Story Summary:

A man identified as Ebuka Francis Ugwu, has allegedly committed suicide in Jere town, Kaduna State.

It was gathered that Ebuka, from Nsukka, Enugu State, died after he allegedly drank a poisonous substance suspected to be insecticide.

A source who spoke to the roommate of the deceased told ROTV24 that the incident happened in the early hours of Monday, November 7, 2022.

It was further learnt that arrest has been made by police in Jere and the case will be transferred to the state CID for further investigation.

Source:Lindaikejisblog

CASE TWO

Story Title: Anambra poly student commits suicide over failed relationship

Victim’s Name: Not given

Marital Status: Single

Date: Friday, November 18

Gender: Male

Age: Mid 20s

Method: Sniper

Reason: Failed relationship

Type: Suicide

Occupation: Student

State Where incident Happened: Anambra

Victim’s State of Origin: Not given

Story Summary:

A final year student of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, has reportedly committed suicide over a failed love affair with his partner.

According to a source who craved anonymity, the young man (in his mid-20s) was in the place of his industrial attachment when the news broke that his partner had jilted him.

The late student was said to be a promising and brilliant young man who was close to making Distinction in the Department of Public Administration.

Source: PUNCH

CASE THREE

Story Title: Abuja woman commits suicide, corpse, baby found in bush

Victim’s Name: Not given

Marital Status: Single

Date: Tuesday, November 22

Gender: Female

Age: Not given

Method: Sniper

Reason: Not given

Type: Suicide

Occupation: Not given

State Where incident Happened: Abuja

Victim’s State of Origin: Not given

Story Summary:

A yet-to-be-identified nursing mother has committed suicide, abandoning her child in a bush where her corpse was discovered along Suuka Airport road, in the Federal Capital Territory.

PUNCH Metro gathered that an empty bottle of insecticide was found beside her corpse in the bush on Monday.

A resident in the area, who identified himself simply as Nnaji for security reasons, told our correspondent that the victim’s corpse was found when passers-by heard her baby crying in the bush.

Nnaji said, “The corpse of a middle-aged woman was seen in a bush in our area on Monday evening. A two-year-old girl was sitting close to her crying.

Source: PUNCH

CASE FOUR

Story Title: Varsity Student Commits Suicide Over Girlfriend, Smart Phone

Victim’s Name: Nalkur Zwalnan

Marital Status: Single

Date: Wednesday, November 16

Gender: Male

Age: Not given

Method: Hanging

Reason: Failed relationship

Type: Suicide

Occupation: Student

State Where incident Happened: Gombe

Victim’s State of Origin: Not given

Story Summary:

A 400-level student of Federal University, Kashere (FUK), Gombe State one Nalkur Zwalnan Lar of the education department on Wednesday night hanged himself to death outside the school campus.

According to sources, the deceased committed suicide at Santuraki quarters near a telecommunications mast.

It was gathered that he killed himself after finding out on resumption of academic activities in the universities that his girlfriend had gotten married someone else during the seven months old strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The girl’s name was not mentioned.

Source: LeadershipNG

CASE FIVE

Story Title: Man commits suicide on Bayelsa flyover

Victim’s Name: Not given

Marital Status: Single

Date: Sunday, November 27

Gender: Male

Age: Not given

Method: Hanging

Reason: Frustrated

Type: Suicide

Occupation: Not given

State Where incident Happened: Bayelsa

Victim’s State of Origin: Not given

Story Summary:

A yet-to-be-identified man has reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself at the flyover near the NNPC filling station on the Sanni Abacha Expressway in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

PUNCH Metro gathered that passersby found the victim’s corpse dangling on the rail of the flyover on Sunday.

While some residents believed that the deceased was insane, others suggested that he committed suicide because he was frustrated about life.

A resident, Mercy Didi, said until the victim’s death, he was usually seen at the Swali Market in the area.

Source: PUNCH