… Lagos ranks highest in suicide cases
A female officer of the Nigerian Air Force, simply identified as George, reportedly committed suicide in her place of residence at Ikeja, Lagos State.
George, a Master Warrant Officer working at 651 Base Services Group Resident at Block T5 Flat 8 in Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja, was found dead at her home and her body has been evacuated to allow for a full inquiry into the cause of her death.
A military signal obtained by newsmen said, “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 10 Jun 23. Efforts are ongoing by 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 lead you to early grave.”
Meanwhile, reports had shown that at least 79 people comprising 70 males and 9 females committed suicide in Nigeria in 2022.
The figure does not include the number of cases of suicide that have not been reported in the media.
The breakdown showed that Lagos ranked highest with 12 suicide cases; followed by Oyo, 10; Kano, four; Anambra, three; Edo, three; Delta, three; Ogun, three; and Rivers, three.
Borno, Bayelsa, Abia, Benue, FCT, Imo, Enugu, Niger, Jos, Jigawa, Kaduna and Kwara had two cases each.
Others such as Ondo, Osun, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Gombe, Cross-River, Kogi, Adamawa, Ekiti, Bauchi, and Yobe, had one case each.
It had also been reported that on May 19, a former Battalion Commanding Officer who led the fight against Boko Haram in the North East, Major U.J Undianyede, was said to have committed suicide.
It was learnt that he killed himself less than 72 hours before the verdict of a court-martial trying him for alleged military infractions during the war.
