Attempt is a felony –Yusuf AlliOgun, Lagos Record Highest Cases

 

          …Ogun, Lagos top list

 

 

The official confirmation that the Nigerian economy is in recession by the Federal Government on August 31, appears to have further stimulated more suicide cases across the nation. In the last six months, seven out of the 36 states of the federation sampled, have recorded over 62 cases of suicides according to statistics from the various police commands.

Ogun and Lagos states have the highest figures of 25 and 12 respectively. Although, psychologists had predicted this, while citing financial and economic troubles that many Nigerians are currently facing, many are still surprised at the huge statistics.

The poor economy has compelled companies to close shop because of harsh operating environment and difficulties in sourcing foreign exchange. Consequently, many have been thrown into the Labour market, thereby increasing people’s anxiety, depression and frustration.

According to Saturday Telegraph investigations, many are now embracing suicide as short cut to end hardship and economic nightmares not minding that Nigerians consider the act a taboo. With this, their supposed misery and suffering brought about by the prevailing recession are buried with them.

Ogun

The Acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi, has confirmed 25 awful statistics of suicide deaths in Ogun State. On Tuesday, August 16, a housewife identified as Mrs. Omolola Atejioye hung herself inside her apartment in Ilishan-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of the state.

The tragic incident shocked many residents as the deceased did not leave behind any suicide note. Atejioye, aged 35, tied herself to the ceiling in one of the rooms in the building located along Ago-Iwoye road in Ilishan-Remo. The husband of the deceased, Ayodele, reportedly returned from work about 5:30pm and found her wife dangling in the room.

Why she took her own life could not be ascertained as neighbours gave different accounts about the incident. While some point to health challenges, others claimed she incurred some debts and was struggling to pay back, without success.

Lagos

In neighbouring Lagos State, the PPRO, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police, also confirmed that 12 suicide cases and five attempts were reported to the command in the last six month. Worried by this trend, Badmos said, what is important to the police is to find out why people would want to commit suicide.

She said there is the need to educate those that did not succeed to see reason that killing oneself is not the best way out of any problem. “We can prosecute anyone who made attempt to kill himself or herself but that seemed not to be the solution.

“The real solutions lie in finding out from such persons the reasons for such an act and talk them out of it. We always advise victims’ families of victims to monitor them closely because those who commit suicide do so out of depression and frustration ranging from marital, economic, loss of job and some other vices.”

Ebonyi

Also in Ebonyi State, no fewer than 10 persons have committed suicide with the latest being a 36-yearold man in Mgbaleze Isu Community, Onicha Local Government Area of the state, Chijioke Ani, who hung himself in his farm. The state PPRO, DSP George Okafor, confirmed the incidents.

‘’Yes, it is true that a man killed himself at the farm. He did not leave any note behind so, it was difficult to ascertain what could have led him into the act.” Before Ani’s case, Ogonna Obaji, a 22-year-old man from Umuezeukwu Community of the same local government had equally taken his life.

According to his mother, Nkpuma, Ogonna, popularly called Best finished his secondary three years ago and moved to Lagos to join his brother but developed mental problem along the line. She told Saturday Telegraph that Ogonna had tried to take his life with knife and was saved on many occasions.

“I left Ogonna with the father in the house and when I returned home, I could not see him. “I started looking for him and raised the alarm which attracted our people. We searched for him and later saw him dangling on a tree.’’

Earlier in January, a 19-year-old teenager girl, identified simply as Chiamaka, also committed suicide. She was said to have been impregnated and abandoned by her lover boy. Chiamaka took her life in her residence at No. 17 Nwike Street Abakaliki.

Delta

In Delta State, about four reported cases of suicide were recorded by the state Police Command. The PPRO, SP Celestine Kalu, confirmed the incidents. Those reported were that of a 26-year-old student of Delta State University, Abraka, Evelyn Mogekwu, a woman, identified simply as Jane, who was said to have committed the act after her fiancé abandoned her for another woman.

The other incident was that of a student of the Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe- Oghara, Miss Oritsegbubemi Udu. While Evelyn was studying Microbiology at DELSU, Oritsegbubemi was an ND II student of Otefe-Oghara polytechnic.The name of the fourth victim was not given.

Jane, a graduate of Economics from University of Benin, allegedly took her life due to frustration after she was jilted by her unidentified boyfriend of seven years.

Oyo

Oyo, like other states, recorded four cases of suicide within the period under review. On June 26, a 10-year-old girl, Kudirat Raji, was said to have surprisingly committed suicide in Ibadan. She was residing with her sister at 19, Bumoye Street, Benjamin area, Eleyele, the Oyo State capital. Raji was sent on an errand within the house, but did not return on time.

She was later found to have hanged herself with a rope tied to the window burglary in the house. Just like Raji, a 35-yearold commercial motorcyclist residing in Oyo town, Jimoh Yusuff, also committed suicide on July 2, after reportedly killing his wife, Adeola. Yusuff was said to have strangled his wife to death after which he ingested rat poison and died at the General Hospital, Oyo.

There was yet a similar tragedy on August 4, when 48-year old ex-NEPA staff committed suicide in his house at Ayegbami Zone 7, Idi Ose along Akanran Road in the Ona Ara Local Government Area of Ibadan. Adepoju was disengaged from the establishment at Abeokuta two years before his death, but his wife said he had not been paid his entitlements.

The deceased however left a three-sheet suicide note indicating that he was suffering from a chronic disease. Aside that, another 54-year-old woman, Oluwabunmi Oluwafemi, also toed the same shameful route on August 29, in Ibadan, by hanging himself on a tree.

The deceased who used to reside in Bembo, Apata area of Ibadan, was said to have gone to spend the weekend with her first child, Opeyemi, in Olugbode, Odo-Ona area of the town before the calamity.

Ondo

Unlike other homicide offences, suicide cases are not usually reported to the law enforcement agencies in Ondo State, according to the police. Nonetheless, the PPRO, Femi Joseph, confirmed one reported case in the last six months to the State Police Command.

The deceased, whose name was not given, was a male from Owo Local Government Area of the state. Joseph told Saturday Telegraph that the man was found dangling at the ceiling of his one room apartment in the town. The PPRO, however, said people are not reporting such cases to the police because of the traditional perception about suicide as, according to him, they prefer to report such incidence to traditionalists.

Kano

And in Kano State, about six victims were recorded, according to police statistics. The six cases had to do with depression, the police further said. Sara Imoleayo, a 400 level student of Bayero University Kano, was among those that took their lives.

Another, who was identified simply as Dauda was overheard complaining of economic hardship on many occasions slaughtering himself with a sharp knife. The remaining ones, Kumbotso, Madobi and Kwakwachi, one of our correspondents gathered died because of excessive poverty.

Psychologist

However, a socio-psychologist at the University of Lagos, Dr. Alex Igundunse, said that suicides are upshots of anxiety. “It borders on how people adjust to what is happening in the country. Issues like how am I going to feed my family; take care of my children, continue the house I am building and all that.

“So, it triggers an anxiety and in such situations, what people really need to do is to calm the nerves of such individuals as much as possible, assuring them that there are solutions to some of these things. That is just one of them.

“It can also lead some people right into depression because if the economy is depressed, also trying to translate their thinking can lead to the psychological depression because it gives their hopes in terms of how they can quickly loose it and all that kind of thing.

“But, if these issues are not properly handled, those that attempted suicide and fail would definitely try it again and in most instances, they would succeed the second time. So, close relatives should keep an eye and constantly feed such individuals with soothing words so as to reconfigure their thinking towards positives.”

Clerics

According to an Islamic scholar and lecturer at the Lagos State University, Ojo, Dr. Alayinde Yusuph, suicide is Haram; it is forbidden. “You shouldn’t kill others let alone yourself. “Among the prohibited things in the Holy Quran, suicide is one of them because before the advent of Islam, the Arab used to kill their daughters to run away from hardship and all sorts.

But the Holy Quran frowned at it. It is called Wabil jannat. So, the Holy Quran forbids it totally.” Also, the Senior Pastor, Transformation Chapel, Emmanuel Ohere, told one of our Correspondents that as Christians, taking one’s own life is wrong and not biblical. “No man has the right to take his or her own life; the messages and admonitions from the church have really helped in curbing the ugly incident,” he added.

Law

For Yusuf Ali, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), suicide is an offence against the state. “But that’s only if it is an attempt. So, the state criminalises it. If you succeed, there’ll be no one to charge you for anything. It’s an offence under the criminal law. “It’s felony.

A felony is an offence that is punishable with imprisonment of not more than seven years. But, it is when you attempt and fail that you have committed an offence under the law. In that instance, the state takes up the charge,” Ali said.

Reported by Taiwo Jimoh (Lagos), Kunle Olayeni (Abeokuta), Dan Atori (Minna), Dominic Adewole (Asaba), Sola Adeyemo (Ibadan), Uchenna Inya (Abakaliki), Babatope Okeowo (Akure) and Muhammad Kabir (Kano)

https://newtelegraphonline.com/62-nigerians-committed-suicide-6-months-police/

All thanks to Lord Casandra ...

Mai Chanji General of the Federation !!

Ogun and Lagos states have the highest figures of 25 and 12 respectively. Although, psychologists had predicted this, while citing financial and economic troubles that many Nigerians are currently facing, many are still surprised at the huge statistics.

They are all Killing themselves because they Trusted this Quack Doctor with their Lives.

Courtesy of Dullardinh@

There was a country. There was a dictator There was a president

I think when they start chanting "...A.P.C..." in 2019 people will run from them.

I see the region that brought this upon the country are the highest hit. It shows that God does nt sleep.

This is the most indicting report or record any government should ever have. The fact that it's tied to one similar thing-unfounded and unnecessary yet absolutely punishing and acute hardship within a short period-should worry leaders at every level of government but do they care? Hell no!

Once a parent cannot live up to obligations with poor innocent children looking up to them for succour beginning to become an elusive mirage automatically drives such parent up the wall and to the lowest depths! There was a country!

This is a country whose citizens are known for their resilience and irrepressible appreciation for life. Not long ago, suicide was something associated with whites and today in just 6 months, over 62 persons are reported to have ended their lives by their own hands! It shows that resilient Nigerian spirit has taken one beating too many, got broken and called it quits.

The fact that previously, despite fairly tough situations one could always look forward to some fruitful outcome or could guarantee positive response from a benefactor at worst kept hope alive and propelled d will to survive. These days though, faces are drawn and haggard due to d bleak outlook. People struggle to work but don't get paid, rudimentary services are shunned so those who survive at this level can barely do do anymore, no more financial assistance cos even benefactors are hard pressed yet d cost of basic needs for survival have hit d roof. The cost of living is driven up high because of prevailing economic circumstances yet d standard of living dips even lower...

These beautiful souls lost d will to live because their spirits were not only broken but done by those whom they trusted to deliver the goods. Therefore in addition to the unprecedented hardship, they have to deal with the guilt that they consciously, wilfully and callously at the time, brought this on thereby actively purchasing their own deaths! The backlash of poor judgement sadly reflects on those who saw d looming danger, warned and refused to partake of d macabre dance of invitation to disaster yet were unable to get out of d way unscathed because they are unfortunately yoked with their appallingly unwise, unstable and undiscerning countrymen!

Indeed there was a country!

In as much as the Economy is unfriendly, taking your own life is unexplainable.

We should not blame the Government for this one, we are in this suffering together and some deluded mofos think they are smart by committing suicide, trying to escape the suffering... Very disloyal.

no RIP to them from me.

People killing themselves because their illicit businesses are no longer allowed compared to when stealing was not corruption. All Nigerians whose sources of income were legitimate are still in business, although with little attendant hitches associated with changes and economic downturn . But rather than staying around to confront the challenges, they cowardly preffered to cross over to the other divide. Their biz.

I wouldn't be any surprised if Afonja slaves start screaming Afonja. For the avoidance of doubts, Nigeria was not in a recession when Gej & his annoited Abba moro wasted the lives of some Nigeria youths.We were neither in a recession when our pensioners were dying in droves Owing to Gej's Insensitivity to pay 42months arrears due them only for Pmb to pay up 12 months arrears upon his assumption to office. With all sense of responsibility, Recession is no excuse for Suicide. Recession Is only but an economic condition solvable by long lasting economic solutions. With all due respect, anyone committing suicide does that at his/her own peril. May i put this question to the zombified wailers; could you show me one advanced economy that hadn't gone through its own period of recession? I will consider the tag of a wailer. We are aware that this condition was a build up of sheer wastefulness & planlessness over the time, not forgetting the economic profiteers scattered across the country. I'm hopeful.
Kiss tha truth

Buhari see wetin you caused o