Petroleum Dealer, One Other Commit Suicide In Ebonyi State

Many residents of Abia state are shocked and bewildered by suicide incidents that have happened simultaneously in various parts of the state.

Daily Sun reports that the homicide department of the Ebonyi state police command in Abakaliki is battling to unravel the circumstances surrounding the tragic incidents.

According to police source, one of the people who allegedly took his own life was an Ebonyi-based Anambra oil magnet, who was identified only as Chima. His body was said to be found dangling on a ceiling hook in his office at Presco Campus Junction of the Ebonyi State University.

Although the deceased did not leave any suicide note, it was understood that he might have decided to take his own life because of recent business problems.

The man was said to be the son of an Anambra petroleum dealer in the state known as Chief Chima, who died two years ago. The father handed over the petroleum firm “Chima Petroleum Resources” to be managed by his son.

The business was said to have suffered a setback, and Chima appealed to his mother to support him in accessing a bank loan to save the firm from imminent collapse, but the mother allegedly refused to help.

A source close to the deceased’s family disclosed that the man succeeded in securing a loan from a commercial bank, which he was unable to repay at the end of the time agreed. The source further alleged that challenges in business could have made him commit suicide.

In another development, a 22-year-old man identified as Ogonna Obaji has reportedly hung himself on a tree in Umuezeukwu community in Onicha local government area of the state.

The man reportedly committed the act in Ogbanja village square where local people gather to discuss issues affecting the community.

Although nobody knew the cause of the incident, residents of the area alleged that the man committed suicide out of frustration.

Nkpuma Nwanjoku, the mother of the deceased, said that her son had some mental problems and had tried to take his life several times.

“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, Chris Anyanwu, the Ebonyi state police public relations officer, confirmed the incidents and promised to release the details after full investigations.