A mother of three children has allegedly committed suicide in Enugu State over what some sources attributed to the unbearable economic hardship and rising cost of living in the country.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the incident happened on Saturday, March 2.
Our correspondent was informed that the woman, whose identity had yet to be ascertained, had gone to the Ogui Police Station in the Enugu North Local Government Area of the state and reportedly dropped her three kids, without leaving a word with anyone.
An eyewitness who refused to be mentioned told our correspondent that the middle-aged woman, who was said to have become depressed over the current high cost of living in the country, stripped herself naked, came out of the station situated along Ogui Road and ran into a moving vehicle. The vehicle instantly crushed her to death, leaving the children who are below six years motherless.
Speaking with our correspondent, a senior police officer, who witnessed the incident, said when the eldest of the children was asked about their father, she simply said, “Our father got lost.”
The police officer, who didn’t want his name in print, referred our correspondent to the command’s spokesperson, who said that the little girl could not give any other information about their family, their town or residential address.
When PUNCH Metro contacted the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, on the telephone, he simply said, “Please call back, I am in a meeting.”
He did not return the call nor answer subsequent ones as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the wife of Enugu State governor, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah, has undertaken to sponsor the children’s living and education.
Mbah’s wife announced the scholarship to be undertaken through her Custos Care Foundation when she paid an unscheduled visit to the Ogui Police Station, where the children were kept in custody.
She appealed to the people who are depressed to seek help and go for counselling to avoid taking drastic decisions.
She also urged the Commissioner for Ministry of Children, Gender and Social Development, Mrs Ngozi Enih, to intensify sensitisation and counselling of people, especially depressed persons to help them come out of the situation.
