46-year-old man commits suicide in Akwa Ibom

A man, identified as Aniekan Peter Sunday, aged 46, has allegedly committed suicide in his uncompleted building at Otomo community, Ika local government area of Akwa Ibom State.

The ugly incident, which villagers claim has never happened in the community, has thrown natives of the area into mourning and confusion.

According to one of the villagers who spoke on condition of anonymity, the incident, which happened in the early hours of Monday, said dying by hanging is an abomination in this part of the community, which would cause the family to carry out a lot of sacrifices before the burial of the deceased.

As at the press time, nobody could ascertain why the deceased took his life, but it is gathered from women and youths in the community that the deceased, an only surviving son, was expected to bury his late father next Friday.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ika local government, Musa Rilwanu, visited the scene of the suicide after the incident was reported.

Village head of the community, Chief Sunday Thomas Mbaba, expressed grief at the tragedy, describing it as barbaric and shocking.

“Early this morning, a youth from this community, Philip, came to my compound and informed me of the said barbaric act so I immediately went to the police station to inform the DPO about the unfortunate incident,” he said.

It was also gathered that the deceased had packed into his uncompleted building two weeks ago and the deceased died leaving his poor aged mother and relatives.

Speaking on the matter, the state Police Public
Relations Officer (PPRO), Odiko MacDon, said he was not aware of the incident, as it has not yet been reported to state police headquarters.

“I have not been informed about the incident but it is very sad and unfortunate if it is true that the man took his life”. MacDon promised that the police would launch an investigation into the matter.