From Emmanuel Uzor, Abakaliki

Homicide Department of the Ebonyi State Police Command, Abakaliki is battling to unravel the circumstances surrounding the harvest of suicide incidents in various parts of the state.

Daily Sun gathered that the suicide incidents, which occurred simultaneously in various parts of the state had left many residents of the state especially within Abakaliki metropolis bewildered, especially when a popular petroleum dealer was one of the victims of the suicide.

One of the persons, who allegedly took their own lives according to police source included Ebonyi-based Anambra oil magnet, who was simply identified as Chima, whose body was found dangling on the ceiling hook in his office at the popular Presco Junction.

Chima allegedly committed the act in his office at Presco Campus Junction of the Ebonyi State University (EBSU).

Though there was no suicide note left behind by the deceased, it was gathered that he might have decided to take his own life due to challenges in business in the recent times.

He was said to be  the son of an Anambra petroleum dealer in the state known as Chief Chima, who died two years ago and was handed over the petroleum firm identified as Chima Petroleum Resources to manage by the family.

The business was said to have suffered setback, which made him to appeal to the mother to support him in accessing a bank loan to revive the firm and save it from imminent collapse but the mother allegedly declined.

A close source to the deceased’ family further disclosed that he succeeded in securing a loan from a commercial bank, which he was unable to repay at the end of the time agreed, which many said might not be unconnected to him taking his own life.

In another development, a 22-year old man identified as Ogonna Obaji has allegedly hung himself on a tree in Umuezeukwu Community in Onicha Local Government Area of the state.

The deceased allegedly committed the act in Ogbanja village square where the people gather to discuss issues affecting the community.

Though nobody knew the cause of the incident, residents of the area believed that he committed suicide out of frustration.

According to his mother, Nkpuma Nwanjoku, Ogonna popularly called Best finished his secondary school education three years ago and moved to Lagos to join his brother for business while he was there, he developed mental problem.

She said Ogonna had been trying severally with knife and other dangerous weapons to take his life  but could not succeed until that fateful day.

“I left home to harvest cassava in our farm on that fateful day. 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 to begin to look for him. We searched for him and later found him dangling on a tree with rope round his neck,’’ she said.

Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Chris Anyanwu confirmed the incidents but said he had not received details of the incidents and promised to release the details after full investigation.


Source: Sun