Residents of Delta State, South-southern part of Nigeria are still in a state of limbo as to why a minor took his own life.
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There was pandemonium in Ujevwu, in the Udu council area of Delta State, after a 10-year-old boy allegedly committed suicide.
The boy, identified only as Emmanuel, allegedly took his own life on Friday after returning from school with his younger sister in unknown circumstances.
PUNCH Metro learnt that it was the second time the deceased boy had attempted to kill himself.
Emmanuel, who had been living with his father, identified as Mr Raphael, and his stepmother, a money lender, hanged himself with a wrapper tied to an iron bar along the corridor of their bungalow.
A correspondent learnt that this happened after Emmanuel suddenly woke up from sleep. A source said, “Emmanuel woke up from sleep and started laughing. Suddenly, he went inside the room to get a wrapper, which he tied to the iron bar, while climbing a chair. He tied his neck and kicked the chair off his feet.
“The sister made effort to save him by trying to untie the wrapper, while holding him up, but she was overwhelmed. That was when she shouted for help until neighbours came to his rescue.”
A source said the deceased, about two years earlier, had attempted to take his life in the village while living with his grandmother. He reportedly survived due to the prompt intervention of the grandmother, who was around at the time.
A neighbour, quoting an account of Emmanuel’s younger sister, said the late Emmanuel spoke aloud from sleep, saying, “Someone must die today.” However, efforts to save the boy proved abortive as he gave up the ghost on the way to a hospital.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Andrew Aniamaka, said he had not been briefed on the development.