An unidentified body of a middle-aged man suspected to have committed suicide was found dangling on a tree in a forest between Oriuzor community in Ezza North Local Government Area and Achara Unuhu community of Izzi Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State. The communities, which described the incident as abominable, had since reported to the police in the area.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP, Sylvester Igbo, who confirmed the incident as a suspected suicide act, said the police had begun investigation to determine both the identity and the cause of death of the victim, whos age was put at about 30 years. According to him, “this is a case of suicide; it is not a normal death which was reported to us at the police headquarters. We are investigating the remote and immediate causes of the death.
We have told the community leaders to spread information around the two communities about the deceased to identify his true identity and place of origin.” While saying nobody had come to claim the body of the victim, he said Ebonyi State Environmental Protection Agency (ESEPA) had been called upon to remove the corpse, saying it was already decomposing. According to him, when the case was reported, the police went to the scene and discovered that the victim had carefully removed his clothes before hanging himself.
“He was searched but no particulars or GSM phone was found on him,” he said. Meantime, the Coordinator of Abakaliki Development Centre, Mrs. Franca Okpo who condemned the act, wondered why a young man would decide to terminate his own life. She described the incident as a loss to the affected community where the victim hailed from and counselled people to always reject the temptation to take their own lives.
“When you look at the scenario, you will discover that it was a well arranged suicide mission put in place by the victim; he carefully placed the rope around himself. He also took cognizance of the distance between the tree and the ground. Going by other factors emanating from the scene, it is obvious that the victim had thought about it several days before he took the action that led to his death,” Okpo said. The corpse had been deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki mortuary