From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
A 72-year-old retired soldier has allegedly committed suicide in his compound, opposite St. Joseph Catholic Church Nyiniongun, a suburb of Makurdi in Benue State.
The deceased identified as Francis Dooga, allegedly hung himself to death on a tree at his residence.
A neighbour who pleaded anonymity said the deceased popularly known as ‘old soldier’ carried out the act while every member of his family was away.
The neigbour who said the body of the retiree was found dangling on a tree at about 6:00pm on Sunday wondered why he decided to terminate his own life this way.
Members of the deceased family who were in grief could not say why the retired soldier took his life. However, some residents of the area alleged that the late retiree had earlier complained of hardship.
It was also gathered that the deceased complained about being defrauded of his pension by scrupulous persons around him while the inability of the pension board to allegedly pay his money in bulk instead of piecemeal worried him tremendously.
Contacted, the spokesperson of the Police in Benue, SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident in a text message to our correspondent.
