A primary six pupil (name withheld) was found Tuesday dead and hanging from a window in his guardian’s residence in Benin City. NEXT learnt that the 11-year-old child, who was allegedly raised by his maternal grand-parents in Igueben Local Government Area of the State, was discovered a few hours after he returned home from school hanging from a window protector, with a rope tied to his neck. The neighbours say they suspect the child must have committed suicide.

Popularly known as OZ in his neighbourhood, the deceased was said to be the only child of his mother and the eldest of his father, who has three other children [boy and two girls] from a second wife.

Residents of No. 9, Ogieva Street, Aduwawa, Benin City, where the sad incident occurred, were thrown into mourning and confusion, wondering what might have prompted the boy, whom they described as mentally stable and jovial, to have committed the act.

A resident said the authorities of his school cancelled the school’s graduation ceremony as a result of the incident. His visibly traumatised grand-mother disclosed that the boy was a leader of entertainment groups that would have featured in the graduation ceremony.