A Nigerian man, Mohammed Umar, who reportedly could no longer fend for his family owing to the prevailing hash economy, has taken his life in Adamawa State.
Umar’s body was found dangling in a solitary place around Rumde-Baru neighbourhood of Yola, the state capital on Saturday.
A resident of the area, who simply identified himself as Ali, told SaharaReporters that the deceased, who was married with children, might have resorted to suicide due to the harsh economic situation in the country.
Umar, a devout Muslim, was sighted at the mosque during the early morning prayer on Saturday before his lifeless body was later found, according to Ali.
Ali said, “A very social person suddenly became reserved, about two weeks after the fuel subsidy was removed.
“Tell me if a man couldn’t provide food for his family, couldn’t pay school fees for the kids and other family bills, what happens; he may be tempted to do exactly what this man did.
“You will wake up every morning with no certainty of what to eat or where to go and get daily bread for survival. If you notice, people are becoming beggars with no shame – people you don’t expect to see them begging.
“It is clear the country is turning into something else and going through an economic crisis. As it is now invariably there is no food for the masses, even me that I’m talking to you I can’t guarantee my family the next meal.
“The difference between me and the deceased maybe because I can endure pressure. Honestly, Nigeria’s economy is seriously derailing. There is no hope for the common man. If you think there is no hope for you, the next thing to do is to hang yourself.”
“If things will go the way I’m seeing, expect more stories to write of deaths by hanging being committed around by many,” he added.
Another resident of the area, Mallam Usman Dan Bature, described the deceased as a kind person, saying, “He was a responsible householder who took proper care of his family.
“Until his demise, he was the manager of A.H.A Block Industry situated along Army Barracks Road, Jimeta.”
The wife of the deceased, Khadijah Umar, explained that they have been living peacefully and had no idea why her husband took his life.
The spokesperson for the police in the state, SP Suleiman Nguroje who confirmed the incident in a statement, said, “Investigation has commenced to unravel the circumstances behind the crime.”
“Following the report received on the incident of a young man that hanged himself around Rumde Baru, Yola North local Government Area, the command’s crime officers were deployed by the Commissioner of Police; they’re now working in collaboration with medical experts to investigate the circumstances leading to the commission of the act,” Nguroje added.
