A 27-year-old National Diploma graduate of Osun State
Polytechnic, Iree, Muili Awolumate, has hanged himself in Ifon area of the
state.
Awolumate’s corpse was found
hanging on a tree with a belt believed to be his. A knife and a wire were also
seen on the scene of the tragedy.
His death marked the third
reported case of suicide in the state this year alone with one occurring in
Ilobu and the other in Ayedaade.
One of the three cases of
suicide involved a junior secondary pupil who hanged himself after telling his
parents that he was going to buy bread.
The Head, Disaster Management,
Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Olaniyi Babalola, said the remains of
Awolumate had been buried on Saturday in line with Islamic rites.
Investigation showed that the
deceased, who graduated three years ago, was unemployed at the time of his
death and he hailed from Olurounbi compound, Diisu Road, Ifon.
It was also gathered that
Awolumate, who was the second child, did not live with his parents.
Babalola said, “It was a most
unfortunate incident. From what we found out, he appeared to have gone to ease
himself in the bush. He took along with him a knife and a wire. It appeared he
committed suicide after easing himself.
“His slippers, clothes were
near his body. There was also a knife on the scene of the incident.
Investigation is still on in the case.”
A source said that Awolumate
was an easy-going young man, who was popular in the locality.
A Consultant Psychiatrist,
Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Dr. Adeoye Oyewole, however,
said suicide was not particularly high in the state.
He added that poor
socio-economic situation of the country could be responsible for the
development.
Oyewole, who spoke in a
telephone interview with our correspondent said, “There is an increase in
depressive illnesses. People who earn salaries can’t make ends meet, let alone
unemployed graduates.
“When you see someone
withdrawing from social activities and behaving in a funny way, complaining of
being fed up with life, let such a person see the psychiatrist quickly.”
TRAGEDY struck on Saturday in Borokiri Area of Port
Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, when a 30 year-old man allegedly beat his
girlfriend to death.
The man, Obinna Eze, was said
to have engage his lover in a heated argument that later degenerated into a
scuffle.
It was gathered that Eze hit
the deceased several times on the head until she lost consciousness, a
development that attracted other residents.
Though the reason for the
fight was not established, Eze was said to have cried out for help when he
realised that his girlfriend, who was identified simply as Idara, was dead.
A resident, who preferred
anonymity, explained that both Eze and Idara had been enjoying cordial
relationship before the unfortunate incident happened.
The state Commissioner of
Police, Mr. Mohammed Indabawa, who confirmed the incident on Sunday, said the
suspect had been arrested.
Indabawa added that the matter
was being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department.
He said, “One Obinna Eze
killed his girlfriend known as Idara in the early hours of Saturday by beating
her to death at his residence. The suspect has been arrested and detained.
“The body of the deceased has
been deposited at the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital mortuary and the matter has
been referred to the Criminal Investigations Department.”
Recalling how a suspect
allegedly killed his lover and buried her in his room, the police commissioner
expressed worry over the increasing rate of homicides among young people.
He urged members of the public
to support the police in the fight against crime, promising that security
agents would respond swiftly as soon as they were alerted.