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…Say more may do it
By Henry Umahi and Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
It appears the spirit of suicide is hovering over the country. Put differently, many Nigerians seem to have fallen in love with the idea of killing themselves. No part of the country is marginalised in this.
Last Thursday, a middle aged man, Ikechukwu Chukwuemeka Kalu from Otutu, Ohaofia – Arochukwu in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State killed himself over a N710,000 debt.
According to a viral video circulating in the social media, the victim, a father of three, was found lying unconscious in front of the Asumpta Catholic Cathedral, Control Post, Owerri, the capital of Imo State, on Thursday after allegedly consuming a poisonous substance.
Mr Augustine Achonu, a gateman at the church, who narrated how the incident happened, said Kalu took a poisonous substance, which rendered him unconscious. He added that the victim left a letter, explaining the reason for his action.
It was gathered that the letter explained that Kalu committed suicide because of the hardship he was passing through even as his wife was also pregnant. He said Kalu also disclosed that he had a loan of N710,000 hanging around his neck.
Nkem Ogbonna, who is the chief gardener of the church, told Saturday Sun: “He died from the intake of poison. We tried to keep him alive but the poison he took was too much for him.”
In March, a mother of three reportedly committed suicide after dumping her children at a police station in Enugu State. The children were said to be six, four and two years old.
The victim, who could not be identified, was said to have walked into the Ogui Road Police Station with the children, handed them over to operatives on duty, removed her clothes and dashed across the road. And a moving vehicle crushed her to death.
It was gathered that her husband abandoned her and the children some months ago due to hardship.
It was further learnt that the wife of the state governor, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah, on hearing about the incident, rushed to the police station. She reportedly promised to take care of the children and train them to university level.
Also in March, the police public relations officer in Lagos State, Benjamin Hundeyin, a superintendent of police, confirmed an incident of a woman who allegedly jumped into the river from a moving boat.
In a statement, Hundeyin said the woman who boarded a boat from the Igando area of the state enroute Ogun State, reportedly jumped into the river from the speeding boat.
He said the incident was reported by one Rasaq at the Igando Police Division, adding that rescue teams were already searching for the woman.
He said: “They were 12 passengers on board. Suddenly, the woman removed the life jacket she was wearing and jumped into the river. She left behind one nylon bag containing a bottle of sniper, Alimosho General Hospital cards and some drugs.”
The victim was suspected to be one Folashade Nimotalahi of unknown address.
In February, a socialite and petrol station owner in Ondo State, Mr. Sesan Adelabu, macheted his wife to death and killed himself afterwards.
He allegedly drank an insecticide after killing his wife in the Alagbaka area of the state capital. It further alleged that he caught his wife in a compromising position with one of his workers. And he killed her.
The police public relations officer in the state, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, confirmed the incident in a statement.
She said: “On February 9, a distress call was received by men of the Special Protection Unit of ‘A’ Division, Akure, over the alleged murder and suicide of a socialite and petrol station owner, Sesan Adelabu, and his wife Bolu Adelabu.
“The officer attached to the deceased in his house in the Alagbaka area in Akure received a call from the deceased’s child around 6pm, asking after his father because he was not picking up his calls.
“The policeman while trying to inform his principal discovered he was faced down and lifeless in the toilet while his wife’s body was found on the bed with multiple cuts suspected to be machete cuts on her head and face.
“Meanwhile, an empty container of sniper was also found at the scene. Investigation has commenced to unravel the circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident and the scene cordoned off to enable police to do the needful.”
Few days to Christmas last year, a female health worker in Adamawa State, identified as Florence Vandi, reportedly committed suicide over the death of her boyfriend. She was attached to Primary Health Care Centre in Girei local government area of the state.
An indigene of Michika LGA, the 22-year-old lover girl resided at Viniklang Area of the state. She allegedly took her life by consuming an insecticide.
The police public relations officer in the state, Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, a superintendent of police, said: “The deceased took the unfortunate decision few hours after the death of her boyfriend, Nuhu Boniface, who died while receiving treatment at the hospital.
“Investigation further revealed that until her death, Florence was a health worker attached to Girei Primary Health Care Centre.”
It is not adults that are killing themselves in Nigeria. A few months ago, Betwom Bitrus, 17, committed suicide in Bogoro local government area of Bauchi State.
The police public relations officer in the state, Ahmed Wakil, confirmed the incident. He said: “We received a report from a Good Samaritan that his nephew, one Betwom Timothy who is 17 years old, left home to take a bath at the stream on September 12, 2023 but he did not return home.
“So, the family organized a search team for him and they eventually found his body hanging on a tree with a sponge and faeces on his trousers in a nearby bush in Bogoro town.
“On receiving the report, the Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, CP Auwal Muhammad, directed the DPO Bogoro Division and detectives to go to the scene and they evacuated the body to the General Hospital in Bogoro where a medical doctor confirmed him dead on arrival. His remains were given to the family for burial.”
But why are people killing themselves? For Dr Lawrence Uchenna Egwu, a lecturer at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umuahia, “it is a complex phenomenon triggered by numerous factors, including mental health, social, economic, and environmental factors that are not well managed.”
According to him, “conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance abuse, psychosomatic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are the leading causes of increasing risks of suicide.
“Psychological factors: Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, despair, and severe emotional pain can contribute to suicidal ideation.
“Social factors: Relationship problems, isolation, bullying, discrimination, financial difficulties, and traumatic life events like loss of a loved one or job can trigger suicidal thoughts.
Biological Factors: Genetics and neurological imbalances may play a role in predisposing individuals to suicidal behaviour.
“Previous suicide attempts: Individuals who have attempted suicide before are at a higher risk of future attempts. Mental health disorders: Conditions like depression and substance abuse greatly increase the risk. Access to means: Easy access to lethal means such as firearms, medications, or toxic substances increases the likelihood of suicide.
“Family history: A family history of suicide or mental health disorders can elevate an individual’s risk. Trauma and abuse: Experiencing physical, emotional, or sexual abuse can contribute to suicidal thoughts and behaviour. Chronic illness/pain: Individuals suffering from chronic physical illnesses or chronic pain are at higher risk.
“Social isolation: Lack of social support or feeling disconnected from others can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and hopelessness.”
On the prevention and control strategies, Egwu said: “Raising awareness about mental health issues and reducing stigma surrounding seeking help can encourage individuals to reach out for support. Increasing access to mental health services, including therapy, counselling and crisis hotlines, can provide support to those in need.
“Implementing policies to reduce access to firearms, medications/toxins, and other lethal means can help prevent impulsive suicides.
Creating supportive environments in schools, workplaces, and communities can foster a sense of belonging and reduce feelings of isolation.
Identifying and addressing mental health issues early, especially in adolescents and young adults, can prevent suicidal behaviour.
“Stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide can prevent individuals from seeking help and accessing support. Cultural and religious beliefs might influence attitudes toward suicide, and shape the availability of support resources.
“Sensationalized or glamorized depictions of suicide in media can contribute to normalization and contagion effects. Psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), and other forms of counselling can help individuals address underlying issues and develop coping strategies.”
Egwu further said: “Antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and other psychiatric medications may be prescribed to alleviate symptoms of mental health disorders. Peer support groups provide individuals with opportunities to connect with others who have similar experiences and share coping strategies.
“Confidential support made available 24/7 through crisis hotlines and helplines coordinated by well-trained professionals and volunteers.
“Community organizations, religious institutions, and non-profit groups often offer support services and resources for individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts.”
In conclusion, Egwu said: “Suicide is a complex and multifaceted issue with far-reaching and devastating consequences. Through understanding its causes, risk factors, and prevention and control strategies, individuals, communities, and policymakers can work in synergy to promote mental health, reduce stigma, prolong life expectancy, and ultimately save lives. “It’s critical to prioritize mental health support, provide and nurture supportive environments, and encourage open conversations about suicide to create a society where individuals irrespective of social standing have sense of belonging, feel valued, connected and hopeful about their future.”
Prof. Elvis Ihaji of the Department of Psychology, Benue State University, (BSU), Makurdi, explained: “People take their lives for several reasons that is inevitable but one taking his own life is an abomination in many cultures and in many societies.
“There comes a time in their lives, they are tired of life, they are tired of existence, they don’t know why they should be alive any longer. So, they start feeling that taking their lives is the next option so as to forget the burden or the problems of this world.
“It comes to a point when an individual is under or having depression and, therefore, his thoughts and reasoning are no longer realistic. It comes to a point of helplessness and hopelessness. So, he has no regard for the others that are left behind but just to escape the world by taking his life.
“And this comes as a result of two major factors. One is that it may be hereditary. Some people may inherit the tendency of having depression and in depression you are no more yourself. So, they can take their lives whether you are a medical doctor or anything, you can jump into the sea.
“The other reason is due to environmental factors. The environmental factor could come from the burden of the society. Poverty can increase it. Like this hardship we are passing through, the rate of suicide is likely to be higher than before because there are several people that cannot meet the ends, their children are suffering, they themselves are suffering. So, this environmental factor in terms of economic hardship is a great contribution to bringing people to the point of depression and taking their lives
“It could be family factors. It could be because of the wife’s disappointment or the husband’s. For some, it could also be that the children are never there with the parents and the parents feel like taking their lives. This is another factor within the family.
“Apart from the above, those who take drugs are prone to take their lives. When they are dependent on drugs, they may come to that point they may even take their lives without knowing the consequences because their reasoning and their mental health are being altered. So, drug abusers do it and you notice that most of them are the youths.
“The youths take their lives more, followed by men. Men take their lives more than women. Women have more suicidal tendency, they have more thoughts of taking their lives but in the actual sense they don’t end up taking their lives compared to the men because suicide is considered as man’s activity, like tying rope to commit suicide or taking a gun to shoot themselves or taking drugs and never wake up again. You hear that many people take drugs and they don’t wake up again; it’s suicide they committed and people may not know.
“Another thing is also the availability of the means of committing suicide. There are more means of taking one’s life or committing suicide available now than in the past like the guns and cars. Someone could drive himself somewhere and hit a tree or something to die and others engage in using petrol that is common or the rat killer. So, the means are more frequently available which also tends to increase the rate of suicide.”
Ihaji also explained that there are ways they give themselves away before doing it. He said: There are also what we call warning signs. Before anybody commits suicide, there are warning signs to indicate that this person is about to commit suicide, whether by jumping into the river or by using car.
“The person would try to withdraw from the public. And in his mind, he will be planning what next to do and when he emerges that he had succeeded even though he has not done it he will smile.
“So, whether it is to use the rope or chemicals or gun when he achieves that in his mind, then he will smile. Some may write a note and leave behind and for some, they will begin to share their inheritance among the people or start telling people where their things are. These are warning signs that you should begin to wonder why this person is behaving like that.
“With their withdrawal and before they eventually do it, they plan how to execute it. If it is tying rope, they go and inspect the place where they are going to do it, whether in a room, in an uncompleted house or on the tree. The rope they are going to use, they arrange it, especially when no one is around.
“So, if you are watchful you will notice this type of things before the person eventually engages in it and if there are psychological services then such a person can be given suicidal test. The test will tell you how frequent he’s thinking about suicide and when he is likely to commit the suicide. We call that suicidal test which can be given.”
Prof. Michael Agbir, who is with the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, said: “In a layman’s term, suicide is defined as a willful act of self harm that has a fatal outcome. The person who has done this has done it with the knowledge and expectation of that fatal outcome.
“On why people commit suicide, there are lead factors that has predispositions to suicidal act. For instance, someone who has attempted suicide in the past is more likely to repeat the act and more likely to commit suicide eventually.
“Majority of people who have committed suicide, more than 70 percent of them have mental illness.
Other factors also include severe depression, chronic alcoholism, unemployment, marital discords, divorce, not being married and abuse of psychoatric substances like alcohol, high level of hopelessness, among others.
“There are also some professions that predisposes people to commit suicide like farmers because of the availability of the tools that they may use. There is also family history of suicide. This predisposes some individuals to commit suicide.
“For the person who have attempted suicide, there are factors or events that can be picked to tell whether the person has a suicidal intent while attempting to commit suicide. For instance, somebody who has used dangerous weapons or methods of committing suicide like hanging, drugging, jumping in front of a moving vehicle or shooting, these are very dangerous methods and anybody who used any of these methods actually, may have had an intent to die.
“Then planning to avoid being discovered like hiding, going inside the bush, staying inside and locking the door, not telling anybody and not attempting to get people involved after the act.
“One who has intention to die will take the drugs and keep quiet but one who does not have intention to die will take the drugs and start telling people that they have taken over dose and they may even take themselves to the hospital to seek medical help. So, not attempting to seek medical help after the act is also an indication that the person actually have planned to die.
“In fact, one making plans ahead of time for instance buying drugs, buying ropes to hang themselves, preparing very poisonous substances or keeping them in large quantities is planning to die. There are also those who have performed what we call ‘final acts’ like writing their wills or telling people goodbye that they may not see them again and then sharing their wealth or properties to people. We call this kind of act final act of suicide.”
He said majority of those who eventually commit suicide must have spoken about it, they must have told one or two persons that they are not interested to live any longer.
“They usually talk about their feeling of hopelessness about the future and it’s a very serious sign that we should take serious. When people start saying that they don’t feel any hope in their future, you have to ask them what it is and what are their plans. Some of them will tell you they don’t have any plan but that it’s better they die and if you probe further you will discover that they have some suicidal tendency. Some of them may come out clearly to tell you that they want to commit suicide.
“As psychiatrists, those who make such pronouncement, we don’t take it for granted because majority of those who commit suicide may have mentioned it and it is good to take them serious and take action to prevent it.”
Pastor Harry Ade, who is in charge of House of Rest International Gospel Network, said: “People take their lives because they feel that they have come to a point that they think there is no hope for tomorrow; hope of them getting out of their current situation, hope of them having a better life than they currently have, hope of them becoming happier or becoming happy. it is simply because they have lost hope.
“Secondly, people take their lives because of depression. They get depressed and they no longer see any value in their lives, they are not happy with themselves the way they are and they see no value again in who they are. When they feel this way, they take their lives.
“Another reason is the promptings of evil spirits. Evil spirits talk to people; an evil spirit can ask you to kill someone else and can also ask you to kill yourself. They can tell the people ‘take that knife, kill yourself.’
“We have had confessions like that. I know people like that; I’m not telling stories I read. A particular girl told us that she would see a spirit and the spirit will tell her to go to the kitchen and take a knife and kill herself. So, I think the evil spirits also prompt people to do what ordinarily they are not supposed to do.”
Pastor Paul Ochomma, former secretary of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Makurdi said:
“The reasons people kill themselves include lack of patience and lack of faith because if you have faith, you will know that tomorrow will be better than today. On the other hand, if you have patience as you’re coming out of your house, somebody may call you to bless you beyond what you are thinking.
“Second is satanic influence because you will hear a thought or a voice that will tell you to go and do it and if you’re not careful, the thought will continue to repeat itself because what the devil used to kill people is manipulating your thought and fear. So, when fear comes over you, the thoughts will continue to come, they will tell you go and kill yourself because that’s the last option and you may not have anything else to do than to follow that voice but if you have faith and you are patient, you won’t do that.
“Another reason for that is hardship because when you are believing God to get N5,000 in a month and at the end of the month, you may not get one naira. So, these things accumulate in your brain that there’s no need for living, let me just go and finish it once and for all. But if you know God and you have patience and faith, you will know that there is no condition that is permanent and you will know that there is no condition that will warrant you to kill yourself.”
Mr Philemon Saror, an officer with National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) in Makurdi, attributed it frustration and mental illness. He said: “I think it’s frustration and somehow, it has to do with some level of insanity that is not known to others who just see the person as a normal human being even though there could be signs that the person can harm himself but since he or she has not exhibited that character, those signs are usually not taken seriously. But generally, the person is the only one who can explain what he or she sees or hears but one day, the mind triggers him to take his life.
“For some, frustration is the reason. They no longer see a way out, no support, no friendship and nobody that they can talk to. At times, that makes them so lonely and thinking deep and they won’t know when they do it.
“Drugs cannot really make you kill yourself. What it does is to keep you afloat, thinking you don’t really see the true meaning of life for you or makes you high it can trigger someone to rather kill another person. It will make them not to have a human face when they are taking certain actions, what a normal person cannot do. But when they are under the influence of drugs, especially all this militants, kidnappers and robbers, they can kill people without looking back.”
Mr Gabriel Gbande, a resident of Nyon, Makurdi, said: “People are killing themselves because of their problems. I have also seen people kill themselves over things like cheating, jealousy and inheritance, among others. Some times, when people are faced with difficulties, they begin to say this problem is too much for them and before you know it, they kill themselves. But honestly, I can’t kill myself because of a problem.
“Recently, a girl killed herself because her boyfriend cheated on her by going out with another girl. She hanged herself. Another man also killed himself because of lack of inheritance. His father took all his property and gave to the last son. So, he felt they have given what rightfully belongs to him to his younger brother and he killed himself.
“It is God who provides for His children. If He has not given you now, wait for your turn. There is no need to kill yourself.”
Meanwhile, it is a crime to commit suicide in Nigeria. According to the law, “any person who attempts to kill himself is guilty of a misdemeanour, and is liable to imprisonment for one year.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) “approximately 700,000 people commit suicide annually. This number excludes the even larger number of people who attempt suicide yearly.”
