“Nigeria’s Hardship Strikes Again? 40-Year-Old Man Allegedly Takes His Life After N1.8m Business Loan Crisis”
By Passman Akpos
A 40-year-old man identified as Ogbeni Goggo has reportedly died after allegedly ingesting a poisonous substance suspected to be Sniper at the Ebrumede/DSC Roundabout area of Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State.
According to a statement circulated by activist and commentator Comr. Israel Joe, the incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, August 26, after the deceased reportedly sent messages to some friends and family members indicating that he was tired of life and intended to end it.
The report claimed that Goggo had allegedly obtained a N1.8 million loan for business, but that the business venture subsequently failed, leaving him under severe financial pressure.
The deceased was also reportedly married for about three years but had no child at the time of his death.
According to the account, when Goggo failed to return home on Wednesday, his wife became increasingly worried because his absence was said to be unusual.
The report further stated that during the night, Goggo allegedly forwarded messages to some relatives and friends expressing his intention to take his own life. Efforts by those close to him to reach him by telephone reportedly failed.
Family members and his wife were said to have searched for him throughout Thursday without success.
The situation reportedly took a tragic turn on Friday morning when his wife went to the Ebrumede Police Station to report him missing.
According to the account, police officers subsequently showed her a photograph of a lifeless man found around the Ebrumede Flyover Roundabout, alongside a container believed to have contained Sniper.
The woman reportedly identified the deceased as her husband and was said to have collapsed upon seeing the photograph.
The report alleged that some people who witnessed the incident attempted to assist Goggo after he reportedly collapsed and began convulsing after ingesting the substance. They were said to have raised an alarm and attempted to administer oil as an emergency measure, but their efforts allegedly came too late.
The Nigeria Police Force was reportedly alerted, after which officers arrived at the scene and evacuated the body to a mortuary in Agbaro.
The circumstances surrounding the death remain subject to police investigation.
Reacting to the incident, Israel Joe expressed sadness over the death, attributing the tragedy partly to the economic hardship confronting ordinary Nigerians.
“Nothing is worth taking your life,” he said, while lamenting that the deceased had left behind a grieving wife, family members and friends.
The incident has again drawn attention to the devastating effects of financial distress, emotional pressure and depression, particularly among Nigerians struggling with debt and failed businesses.
However, there is a need for anyone experiencing overwhelming emotional distress or thoughts of suicide to seek immediate help from trusted relatives, mental-health professionals, emergency services or other available support systems rather than facing the crisis alone.
Rest in peace, Ogbeni Goggo.
