Ada Aniamam
All may, indeed, not be well with Nigeria as no fewer than 17 people have committed suicide this year alone, which is just four months and the two weeks of May. Five of the tragic incidents indeed occurred in the past two weeks. While suicide can be said to largely be a personal thing, observers are likely to link some of the incidents to some socio-economic issues bothering Nigeria as a nation.
Since a Lagos DJ, Seun Omogaji, took his life in January, there has not been any month in 2019 that one or two people did not commit suicide. The pattern shows factors of economic depression, but worrisome also are cases of students committing suicide over failure in exams while some young people also see solace in killing themselves over botched romantic relationships. A student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Chukwuemeka Akachi, reportedly committed suicide today (Tuesday).
It is also curious that the rat poison called sniper is the easiest thing many of the victims lay their hands upon – not even the rope. Here are most of the suicide cases so far reported, with the fear that some may have gone unnoticed.
Here is the diary of suicide:
January 03
A popular Disc Jockey (DJ), Seun Omogaji, committed suicide by taking sniper. Omogaji took his life about six hours after he posted a suicide note on Instagram. In the note, he apologised to his children and mum but did not state the reason for his action.
January 11
About two weeks after a DJ, Seun Gaji, committed suicide in Lagos, another resident has killed himself.
A middle-aged man whose identity is not yet known, he committed suicide by hanging himself on a tree on Catholic Mission Road, opposite the Court of Appeal in Lagos Island today January 11.
Reports say residents in the area woke up Saturday morning to find his body dangling from the tree.
He tied a scarf on the tree which he used to kill himself.
The police have taken his body to the mortuary.
Feb 15
A student of Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, was said to be in coma at the school’s teaching hospital after attempting to kill herself on Valentine’s Day.
The lady simply identified as Susan was said to have jumped from the third floor of a storied building because she didn’t get a Valentine gift from her boyfriend.
Another report, however, said she had been battling depression for some time.
March 11
A 32-years-old banker and mother of two, identified as Peace, in Ughelli, Delta State, committed suicide over her husbands’ alleged infidelity. She also took sniper. Her husband, Mr. Umukoro Akpobaro, however, denied having a hand in her death.
According to him, Peace had complained of some debts she incurred after “overposting” funds to some customers.
“One happened in January and the amount was about N100,000. She called me and asked for my help and I sent N50,000 to her. I told her that I would send the balance when another one happened in February. She complained that she was getting tired of the debts,” he was quoted as saying.
March 15
A woman committed suicide after losing two children when a building collapsed in Lagos last March. It was reported that she bought a bottle of Sniper to execute her plan. Its bottle was found beside her bed after her death.
March 17
A university admission seeker, identified as Loveth, recently took her life in Ekiugbo, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. It was reported that she was displeased with the 163 she got in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. To show her disenchantment, she consumed three bottles of an insecticide, with the bottles found by her side on the day she was found lifeless.
The same month, a Niger Delta University student, Aduba Daniel, also committed suicide by drinking sniper after he allegedly discovered he had ‘carryover’ in his courses.
April 6
A former lecturer of University of Ibadan, Aminu Zubair, set himself ablaze. He was set to have set himself on fire in his home – although authorities of the institution dismissed reports that it was a suicide. Zubair was said to have set himself ablaze in the senior staff quarters located at Phillipson Road on the university campus.
April 16
A female student of Delta State University (DELSU), Tejiri Direia, reported to have dropped out from the institution, committed suicide at her residence in Abraka .
A security source from Abraka Police Station said the late Tajiri, who was supposed to be a 300 level student of the Department of Nursing, locked herself inside her apartment and consumed a poisonous substance. Her neigbours had to break into her apartment when they started perceiving an offensive odour from the room.
April 18
As if it was a month of suicide, 20-year-old student of Kogi State University, Ayingba, Rebecca Michael, took sniper when her lover said to be a famous disk jockey DJ in Lokoja, the state capital, informed her that he was no longer interested in the relationship.
April 21
Another young Nigerian, Hungwa Igbavenda, committed suicide on April 21.
Identified as Hungwa Igbavenda, he was found hanging from a tree in Ameladu Ipav, Gboko Local Government of Benue State.
Reports said the deceased, popularly known as popularly known as “Agwei”, had two wives with one pregnant at the time of his suicide.
April 23
Kolapo Olowoporoku, a student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, IIe-Ife, committed suicide after repeatedly failing some courses.
He was an extra year Computer Science student who ought to have graduated two sessions before. He was delayed as a result of two outstanding courses.
April 25
About a week after Olowoporoku committed suicide, another undergraduate killed herself. The lady, Adewara Damilola Blessings, was a Computer Science student of the Ogun State Institute of Technology, OGITECH.
She allegedly killed herself by consuming a poisonous substance on the evening of Thursday, April 25.
Suicide spree extends to Quarter 2, five gone already
The litany of suicides is actually expanding in this second quarter. Apart from the fact that there is likely to be unreported cases, this May alone, the country has recorded up to five cases, with that of UNN’s Chukwuemeka Akachi being about the fifth.
On May 1, Hikmat Gbadamosi, a student of the University of Port Harcourt, was found dead in her room after allegedly taking two bottles of insecticide, Sniper, two days earlier. According to her friends, she was the assistant course representative of students at her level. She was said to have suffered depression.
The same May 1, a 100-level student of Business Administration, University of Lagos, Ayomide Ariyibi, killed herself following accusations that she stole clothes in her hostel. Far from being a rumour, the Deputy Registrar, UNILAG, Toyin Adebule, confirmed the incident, saying, “She died at home. There is a rumour that she was accused of stealing some things in the hostel. When we meet the family, we will know what exactly happened. But definitely, she is dead.
Definitely, she committed suicide. I have gone to her hall and I have confirmed the incident. Our thoughts are with the family.”
ALSO READ: First class student commits suicide at UNN
Days after, Kenile Nwabuzor, a hairdresser, committed suicide in her Ijeshatedo, Lagos home following a disagreement with the man identified as David.
Phenomenal.com,ng had reported that Kenile said David was going out with too many girls and later sent e text message to him, saying, “If you want to kill me, I will help you by killing myself.”
