50-Year-Old Man Commits Suicide In Umuahia

The body of a 50-year-old man, identified as Chukwudi Maduka, who allegedly committed suicide at Umuezu-Ore Umuana village in the Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia Monday has been retrieved.

The Public Relations Officer of Abia State Police Command, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, who confirmed the development in Umuahia, said Maduka was found dead on Monday morning in his one-room apartment.

The spokesman said the 50-year-old man did not leave a suicide note, adding that the command had commenced an investigation into the incident “to possibly unravel the reason for the suicide.”

Narrating the development, a resident of the area, Mr Dave Maduakor, said 50-year-old Maduka set his apartment on fire before hanging himself, using the ceiling fan in the room.

Maduakor said neighbours sensed danger when they noticed smoke coming from the room of the deceased.

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“When they tried to open the door, they noticed that it was locked from inside, so they forced it open and found Maduka’s body hanging from the fan,” Maduakor said, quoting the deceased’s landlord, Mr John Chikezie.

He said that the deceased was reported to have travelled to his village in Lokpanta in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State and returned to Umuana community in Umuahia on Friday.

He said: “The landlord said when he wanted to speak with the man, who locked himself up in his room on Saturday, he told him that he was praying.”

Maduakor said the incident was later reported at the Ehimiri Police Station, where some operatives were detailed to the scene.

He said the chairman of the community, Mr Ngozi Onwumere, with the landlord, consulted a group, known as “kamanu” that specialised in handling suicide cases.

“The group brought down the body of the man, which was later deposited in a mortuary,” Maduakor said.