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Tag: Suicide

  • Suicide: Lagos Govt charges men to break culture of silence

    Suicide: Lagos Govt charges men to break culture of silence

    The Lagos State Government has charged the male gender to break the culture of silence and always speak up, so as to curb suicidal tendencies.

    Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), gave the charge at Ikeja during an event to commemorate the 2023 International Men’s Day.

    The  theme of the celebration was ”Zero Male Suicide”.

    Vivour-Adeniyi said that every year, 703,000 individuals committed suicide, with many more attempting to do so, and it was the fourth highest cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds worldwide in 2019.

    According to her, every suicide is a tragedy that impacts families, towns, and whole countries, as well as the people who are left behind.

    ”Suicide is a global epidemic that affects all parts of the world, not only high-income nations. In reality, low-and middle-income nations accounted for more than 77 per cent of global suicides in 2019.

    ”Suicide is a severe public health issue, but it is avoidable with early, evidence-based, and frequently low-cost treatments.

    ”A comprehensive multi sectoral suicide prevention plan is required for national interventions to be effective,” she said.

    The Executive Secretary said that though suicide in Nigeria was still regarded as a taboo, but the alarming rate had become worrisome and statistics indicated that men have the highest rate of suicide.

    She said that it was for such reason  that the DSVA commemorated the international day, to encourage men to teach the boys in their lives the values, character and responsibilities of being a man.

    ”In light of the theme for this year’s International Men’s Day, Zero Male Suicide, one of the six pillars of the celebration is to focus on men’s health and well-being: physical, social, emotional and spiritual.

    ”Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, while just over  two in three suicides on a worldwide basis are men, it is important to bring down the suicide rate for both males and females.

    ”To this end, to commemorate International Men’s Day 2023  with the theme: ”Zero Male Suicide”, the agency has curated an initiative tagged: `Break the silence, Don’t take your life, Seek help to discuss various issues that cause depression and other forms of abuse against men’.

    ”This discourse is of utmost importance on this day because, International Men’s Day (IMD) is a global awareness day for many issues that men face, including abuse, homelessness, suicide, and violence celebrated annually on November 19.

    ”We believe that this would be an opportunity to continue to break the culture of silence, which encourages SGBV to thrive,” Vivour-Adeniyi said.

    Also speaking, Dr Tolu Ajomale, the Coordinator, Special Project, Lagos State Ministry of Health, urged men to take proper care of their mental health.

    Ajomale said that one’s mental health could be affected by loss of job; drug abuse; extreme poverty; gender-based violence; trauma; chronic diseases; war, loss of a loved one; work stress; divorce, among other issues.

    He urged the men to always speak up, and have at least five persons they could rely on, to discuss their mental health issues with.

    ”The statistics of mental health are very worrying, and I think since COVID-19, the numbers have even increased more.

    ”We have seen an increasing number of people who are struggling with their mental health today in Lagos and in every other parts of the country, more than ever before,

    ”So, they are alarming, concerning and they also bring an opportunity for us to begin to draw more attention to mental health, the importance and the impact on our day-to-day life,” Ajomale said.

  • Suicide on the increase – Delta PPRO, Bright Edafe raises alarm, proffers solution

    Suicide on the increase – Delta PPRO, Bright Edafe raises alarm, proffers solution

    Bright Edafe the Police Public Relations Officer in Delta State has expressed worries and concerns over rising cases of suicide among Nigerians.

    According to him, Edafe  suicide has increased significantly among couples recently.

    The Deputy Superintendent of Police recalled how a man who was beating his wife later hanged himself.

    He also recounted how a 16-year-old girl hanged herself because her father had threatened to discipline her for sleeping outside.

    The Police chief, has now urged Nigerians to look out for their mental health, saying the dead person is the loser.

    He advised the masses to steer clear of places where they do not find happiness.

    “Suicide has been increasing recently, especially among couples. A man was beating his wife, and while at it, neighbours came to her rescue, only for the man to enter his house and hang himself.

    “In another incident, a sixteen-year-old lady who slept outside her father’s house was scared of being beaten by her father. Upon doing all she could to appease the father and mother to no avail, she also hanged herself.

    “Let’s look out for our mental health, the person who dies is the one who loses. Anywhere that you do not find peace is not for you. Let’s look out for each other,” Edafe said in a post on his X handle.

  • SAD! Nigerian Army Captain reportedly takes own life

    SAD! Nigerian Army Captain reportedly takes own life

    SAD! A Captain in the Nigerian Army identified as Alphonsus Alexander Kalthy Bazza, has reportedly committed suicide in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

    A relation of the deceased soldier said on Sunday that the lifeless body of Captain Bazza, who recently became a father, was found hanging from a tree in a bush on Saturday night.

    The family source described his death as ‘mysterious and suspicious,’ adding that the cause of death had not been ascertained as he left no suicide note for either his wife, elder sister or any other member of his family.

    “How can a Captain in the army hang himself with a mosquito net that he used to sleep? He didn’t have any reason to kill himself. Did he kill somebody? No! So why would he just kill himself? He lost his tent mate under mysterious circumstances when he was in Yobe.

    “He got married in 2017 and he has only one child – a boy,” the source said.

    He said that the Nigerian Army headquarters said an investigation to determine the cause of death had begun.

    “We lost this young man (my brother-in-law), Captain Alphonsus Alexander Kalthy Bazza, last night. He committed suicide in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

    “But the army headquarters is investigating the real cause of his death. They claimed his body was found hanging in the bush. No note was given to either his wife or any member of his family; the family is not aware that he left any note behind,” the family source said.

  • SAD! Mom of viral ‘mummy calm down’ boy reportedly takes own life

    SAD! Mom of viral ‘mummy calm down’ boy reportedly takes own life

    The mother of the viral ‘Mummy calm down’ boy has reportedly taken her own life.

    According to an X (formerly Twitter) user, she took her life without speaking to anyone about her problems. It was reported that the ugly incident happened in Benin.

    “The woman in the viral Mummy Calm Down video has just committed suicide here in Benin. She refused to speak to anyone about her problems. She left 3 kids for her husband including the popular Mummy Calm down boy.’’

    It would be recalled that ‘Mummy Calm Down’ went viral some years back after a young child was seen begging his mother not to beat him. The video caught the attention of several individuals including Lagos governor, Babajide Sanwoolu.

  • Soldiers rescue woman from committing suicide in Lagos

    Soldiers rescue woman from committing suicide in Lagos

    The 81 Division, Nigerian Army (NA) soldiers have prevented a suicide attempt by one Mrs Francesca Spark who plunged into the Lagos Lagoon around 81 Division Officers’ Mess, Marina Lagos.

    This was contained in a statement signed by the Division’s spokesperson, Lt.-Col. Olabisi Ayeni, on Monday.

    Ayeni said Spark attempted to take her own life; but troops of 65 Battalion NA deployed at the Officers’ Mess sighted her and quickly used their military ingenuity to her rescue.

    “She was given first aid treatment and stabilised by the battalion medical team.

    “After stabilisation, we contacted the family and she was handed over to her husband, one Mr Ovie Spark, residing at Awoyaya Lagos,” he said.

    Ayeni said the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division NA, Maj.-Gen. Muhammed Usman, commended the soldiers for being observant and for their ingenuity, courage and gallantry.

    “The GOC said he was pleased that soldiers brought their training in disaster management to bear in such a critical situation that might have claimed the life of a fellow citizen.

    Usman said such an operation is a military operation other than war, conducted during emergencies or natural disasters, which affirms that troops have been trained to support leading agencies during emergencies.

    “The GOC assured residents of the NA’s commitment to protect them and their property even during emergencies,” Ayeni said.

  • 17-year-old student commits suicide in Benue

    17-year-old student commits suicide in Benue

    The Police Command in Benue on Friday said one Terhemba Tyochivir committed suicide on Thursday in Makurdi, the State Capital.

    The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Sewuese Anene, confirmed the incident to NAN through a text message.

    She said before his death, he was a student of Government Secondary School, Gboko.

    Anene said that the details of the incident remained sketchy even though it was reported at the E Division Police Station, Makurdi.

    She said that the deceased was rushed to Bishop Murray Hospital Makurdi, where Doctors confirmed him dead.

    Efforts made to talk to the father of the deceased, Mr Kula Tyochivir proved abortive as he insisted on talking at another time.

  • Police confirm suicide case in Kogi

    Police confirm suicide case in Kogi

    The Kogi Police Command has confirmed the case of suicide by a yet-to-be-identified man, who allegedly jumped into a river in Lokoja.

    The command’s Public Relation Officer, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, who confirmed the incident, said it happened between 12.30 p.m. and 1p.m.

    Ovye-Aya said that a Divisional Police Officer led a search team to the Meme Bridge on Ganaka-Ajaokuta Road, where the victim was said to have jumped into the river.

    “Our men found the man’s slippers but his corpse is not yet visible, which calls for thorough search for the recovery of his remain.

    “As it stands, the man’s identity is not yet known since none of his family members has shown up to lay complaint.

    “We are only working on a report about the incident by some good Samaritans,” the PPRO said.

    He said that there were two versions of the suicide report with some claiming he left his tricycle on the bridge and jumped into the river.

    According to him, another version claimed that he dropped from another person’s tricycle and jumped in.

    Ovye-Aya further said that “if the deceased was a tricycle rider, the tricycle would have been seen parked on the bridge.

    He described the incident as “very unfortunate” and “rash”, saying that said “what is important to the police is finding the man’s corpse.

    He advised residents of the state to refrain from such rash decisions, in spite of the current economic difficulties.

    “God can change one’s condition for better at anytime,” the PPRO.

    An eyewitness, who spoke to newsmen on the condition of anonymity, said:

    “I am very surprised that a person can decide to take his own life because of hardship.

    “When he jumped into the river we wanted to rescue him but when we saw a snake moving around we got afraid and rushed to inform the police.”

  • Sad! How pastor jumped from 2-storey, dies, after lover he trained in varsity jilted him

    Sad! How pastor jumped from 2-storey, dies, after lover he trained in varsity jilted him

    SAD! A 30-year-old man has reportedly died after jumping from a two-storey building in Nnewi, Anambra State.

    The deceased, identified as Prosper Igboke, a pastor of a Pentecostal church and native of Umunneochi, Abia state, jumped down from the building following disappointment by his female lover.

    A relative of the deceased who preferred anonymity said the lady had declined his marriage proposal after receiving training from the deceased at the university.

    The source said: “The incident happened last month. The man was 30 years old at the time of his death. His girlfriend, whom he intended to marry disappointed him after seeing her through the university.

    “He jumped down from a two-storey building and died. I am surprised that a man of this age and a pastor can do this.

    “He will be buried in a forest for committing sacrilege according to the tradition of Leru autonomous community of Umunneochi LGA in Abia state.”

  • Why I wanted to commit suicide – Lagos beautician, Farida Sobowale,

    Why I wanted to commit suicide – Lagos beautician, Farida Sobowale,

    A Lagos  based socialite, Ms Farida Sobowale, was on the verge of committing suicide before help came her way on Thursday.

    It was gathered that Ms Sobowale, who is the founder of House of Phreeda, a skincare company, in a viral video, packed her Lexus SUV on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos and attempted to jump into the lagoon.

    Findings show that some passersby who saw her at that point held and and promptly prevented her from taking her own life.

    Ms Shobowale, who was dressed in a black outfit, could be seen crying and trying to attempt once more. One of those holding her said they would take her to the police station.

    There were speculations that she attempted suicide because  her luxury marriage which was bare 3 months had crashed.

    The wedding was attended by big wigs in the Nigerian entertainment industry, including nollywood actors like  Foluke Daramola, Fatiha Balogun, Bobrisky, Iyabo Ojo and others.

    However the beautician has now given detailed information as to why she chose to commit suicide

    Explaining her action in an audio that has also gone viral, Farida Sobowale blamed it on love.

    Sobowale said her N100 million marriage with another Lagos socialite, Demola Okulaja, crashed after two months.

    Farida Sobowale said: “Friends and families warned me not to go into the marriage. They told me that the man only wanted my money but I was recalcitrant.

    “It was love that pushed me into this. He told me that he was going to be with me, make me have children for him.

  • Man commits suicide in Jigawa over hardship

    Man commits suicide in Jigawa over hardship

    Samaila Ilu, a native of Jigawa state has hanged himself to death over his difficult situation in his home town.

    It was gathered that the 35-year-old man, had always complained of hardship.

    Police spokesman DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam confirmed the incident to newsmen

    According to him, “On 17/08/2023 at about 1100hrs, police received a report that a 35-year-old man Samaila Ilu of Dungun Tantama village, Hausa local government, left his house on 16/08/2023 to an unknown destination.”

    He said later his body was found hanging on a tree with a rope, presuming he had committed suicide.

    Shiisu said a team of policemen removed the corpse and conveyed him to the hospital for autopsy.

    He said it has since been released to his relatives for burial.