The recent revelation by the Director, Federal Neuropsychiatrist Hospital, Enugu, Prof. Monday Igwe, that at least one person commits suicide every 40 seconds around the world as a result of mental challenges aptly explains the upsurge in cases of suicide in Nigeria.
Igwe’s disclosure at a seminar by the Amaudo Integrated Community Mental Health Foundation organised for media practitioners in Abia State, has opened a new chapter of discussion.
The seminar was not only aimed at raising awareness about mental health of Nigerians, but it was also an opportunity to draw the attention of governments at all levels to the challenges of people living with mental illness.
He regretted that cases of mental illness were increasing in the society as a result of stress, tobacco abuse, alcoholism, cocaine, tramadol and caffeine abuse, among others.
He also condemned the attitude of many Nigerians to persons with mental challenges, which ranges from discrimination, sexual abuse, extortion to exploitation. The combined effects of these factors have always resulted in suicide.
For some time now, cases of suicide have become commonplace occurrence in Nigeria such that from north to south, east to west, the story is the same. People of different social classes, ranging from the poor, the rich to the educated, the semi-illiterates, the illiterates, the employed and the unemployed, are all involved in the scourge.
In the last two months, many Nigerians have attempted or actually committed suicide, although quite a number of them are unreported.
As abominable as the act of suicide is, the scourge appears to be on the increase almost on a daily basis. Apart from the popular Guyana tragedy, where about 900 persons allegedly committed suicide on the advice of their leader, Jim Jones, people are believed to go for suicide option when they are totally depressed and hopeless.
Jim Jones, also known as ‘The Mad Messiah,’ led a congregation called the People’s Temple cult. He told his followers that there was nothing to live for again on earth and that they should commit suicide and go to heaven. They all killed themselves by drinking a poisonous substance. He also drank the substance and died eventually.
On Wednesday, June 14, a 100-level student of the Department of Entrepreneur, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Salako Treasure, reportedly killed herself by consuming a substance suspected to be sniper.
She was found dead inside an uncompleted building around the Lagere area of the town on Wednesday evening with a bottle of sniper next to her body.
Checks revealed she had been undergoing some emotional trauma known to some of her friends and acquaintances before the tragic incident.
The University’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, described the incident as unfortunate, saying, “It is very unfortunate that we have lost a part one student, a promising young lady to what was alleged to be suicide.
Although it happened outside the campus, we are not happy that we could lose such a person under such circumstances. The University, under the administration of the vice-chancellor, Professor Simeon Bamire, is concerned that a student of that tender age could resort to such a thing.
“We appeal to Nigerians to be their brothers’ keepers. The filler we are getting is that she has suffered depression and people around her knew about it. They ought to have referred her to someone elderly or someone who could be of help to her on psycho-emotional issues. We sympathise with ourselves, especially the parents who lost a young lady with a bright future. I want to admonish that this world is filled with ups and downs.
Emotional, psychological and academic frustrations should not make anyone resort to taking his or her life. Her remains have been evacuated and we have involved the police.”
On Saturday, June 10, a female officer of the Nigerian Air Force simply identified as George, committed suicide in her house at Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja, Lagos State. Before her death, she was a Master Warrant Officer working at 651 Base Services Group.
According to the military signal, “Master Warrant Officer George, a female personnel of the Nigerian Air Force, serving at 651 Base Services Group, resident at block T5, Flat 8, in Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja, reported to have committed suicide inside her room at about 1400hrs on June 10, 2023. Efforts are ongoing by the 3 Air Provost to evacuate her to 661NAFH, while further investigation will continue. This is for your awareness. My people, depression is real. Please do not allow 9ija Wahala to lead you to an early grave.”
Also on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, a 30-year-old photographer, Usman Goga, was reported to have allegedly hanged himself inside his bedroom in Babura Local Government Area, Jigawa State.
The incident, according to the report, happened just four months after Goga’s marriage. His lifeless body was discovered by his wife when she returned home from a visit to her relatives.
According to the spokesman of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Adamu Shehu, “Investigation into the incident revealed that a bedside drawer was used on top of a 6′ by 6′ sized bed to reach the ceiling, where the hook was fixed, and the rope tied to it. The bedside drawer was then pushed off possibly with legs to dislodge or rather suspend the body from the hook.
“Close associates of the deceased disclosed that he had an inherent mental disorder that turned up occasionally. He married his wife about four months ago and was living happily with his wife until the unfortunate incident. Further Investigation is ongoing.”
On May 19, a former Battalion Commanding Officer who led the fight against Boko Haram in the North East, Major U.J Undianyede, was also reported to have committed suicide.
He was alleged to have killed himself less than 72 hours before the verdict of a court-martial trying him for alleged military infractions during the war.
However, there is also a report that no fewer than 79 people, comprising 70 males and 9 females committed suicide in Nigeria in 2022 alone. This number included only the reported cases; so many cases of suicide in 2022 were not reported.
According to a breakdown of the report, Lagos State recorded the highest with 12 suicide cases.
It was followed by Oyo State – 10; Kano State- four; Anambra State – three; Edo State – three; Delta State – three; Ogun State- three; and Rivers State- three. Others included Borno, Bayelsa, Abia, Benue, Imo, Enugu, Niger, Jos, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kwara States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja with two cases each. Ondo, Osun, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Gombe, Cross-River, Kogi, Adamawa, Ekiti, Bauchi, and Yobe States had one case each.
Some Nigerians have attributed the cause of suicide to spiritual factor. Those who hold this view believe that most people who commit suicide are constantly persuaded by an imaginary voice within them to end it all.
There are claims that some people who have had the courage to confide in some people about these strange voices have managed to survive, but those who tried to bear the torments silently have always taken to suicide.
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