Man Arrested for Attempting Suicide Over N50,000 Loan

Officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ogun State command, have arrested a man identified as Abiodun Onipede, for attempting to kill himself.

Onipede a tricycle driver was found mounting a rope in a bush. The officer who discovered him raised an alarm and he was apprehended and whisked to the office of the NSCDC.

Speaking with newsmen, the frustrated 34-year-old father of five listed a litany of tribulations he had experienced, ranging from the death of his child, failing to care for his mother who is ill, losing his job, and his latest troubles with Lapo illegal money lenders who recently have been hunting and threatening him and his wife over a N50,000 loan.

He had also dropped out of school (college of education) because he was unable to fund his education.

Onipede feels he has failed at life, failed at caring for his family and especially playing the role of being the ‘head of the family’. It was for this reason that he tried to end his life.

He said:

“I am frustrated because am owing a lot of people ranging from house bill to electricity bill, and some other bills. I am ashamed of myself because am not a responsible man, I cannot cater for my family as a head. The Lapo officials have used OPC to arrest my wife because of the money, if not for the help of my pastor. Am just frustrated because I have to pay N3,000 every Friday and I am presently jobless. And I still have like N24,000 to balance. I cannot pay the hospital bill of my mother, I can’t take care of her, I was told she is now on the street begging to survive. No family to help me, we have been living in abject poverty. What added to my conclusion to commit suicide was due to my inability to refund the ‘Lapo’ loan I collected when I wanted to start my tricycle business. The officials of the Lapo have been giving my family tough times for sometimes now, because, I cannot afford to be repaying N3,000 every Friday.”

Vanguard reports that the Public Relations Officer of NSCDC, Ogbonnaya Dyke, has called his attempt a crime.

“He is going to be handed over to the police after our intelligence Unit has done its proper work,” Dyke said.