Recession: Man Hangs Himself in Ekiti Over Debt
A Civil servant in Ekiti State has reportedly committed suicide over unpaid salaries and huge debt.
Mr. Tope Afolayan, who is a senior civil servant with the Ekiti State Government, has ended his life over an inability to pay his huge debt due alleged unpaid salaries by the Ekiti State government, a reliable source said.
Mr. Afolayan, who is a native of Oye- Ekiti, the headquarters of Oye Local Government Area of the state, had served in the Office of the state Accountant-General before his demise.
The source who craved anonymity, said Mr. Afolayan, a level 10 officer, who killed himself last Thursday, is survived by a teacher wife and three children.
The source went on to add that Afolayan had killed himself by hanging himself from the ceiling. He was found dangling with a noose round his neck at his house, located on Peace Avenue, Olorunda, Ado-Ekiti.
Our source also said the deceased was a student who was in his final year at the Ekiti State University studying for a Law degree. He also doubled as an interpreter at one of the Ekiti state branches of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC).
According to the source, Afolayan, did not leave any suicide note and has since been buried. However, the deceased had always complained to his friends about how the non-payment of his accumulated salary arrears was causing him untold hardship and an inability to pay his debts.
“Although he didn’t leave any suicide note before hanging himself he had been very moody and heartbroken for a couple of weeks before the incident happened.”
“He had been complaining about the debts he owed which he was unable to defray because of non-payment of the arrears of salaries.”
‘’In fact, he was among the last batch of applicants for car loan given by government last year but his name did not come out.”
“We are shocked by Afolabi’s death because nobody thought he would go to that extent, we are still mourning his death,’’ said the source.
The Police in Ekiti State has also confirmed the incident. The Police public Relations Officer in the state, DSP. Alberto Adeyemi, said a suicide incident was reported at New Iyin Road Police Station in Ado Ekiti.
Yet again, another Nigerian takes the coward’s way out due to the economic recession bedeviling the nation – may God help Nigeria.
