66-year-old company driver commits suicide over unpaid salaries

A 66-year-old man, Mr. John Ekue, has committed suicide in the Mende area of Maryland, Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Ekue used a rope to hang himself by the rod of a ceiling fan in his apartment on Oki Lane around 8pm on Monday.

It was learnt that the victim, who worked as a driver for a paint company in Lagos State,  killed himself  over the failure of the company to pay his five-month salaries.

Our correspondent gathered that the victim had been facing tough times since April 2016, when he stopped going to the company, whose name was not disclosed by his family members.

The deceased, who earned N30,000 per month, reportedly became frustrated when feeding became difficult for him.

Our correspondent learnt that his only son, identified simply as IK, a salesman, had been supporting him with his meagre wages.

A resident, Simon Davies, told PUNCH Metroon Tuesday during a visit to the area that IK had gone to buy food for the father when the incident happened.

He said, “His son had gone to buy food for him that evening. But when he returned, he saw his father’s body dangling from a rope and he raised the alarm. People went into the room to help rush him to a hospital, but he died.

“The main cause of the incident is the non-payment of his salaries by a paint company he worked for as a driver. I learnt he earned N30,000 monthly and the company owed him five months’ salaries. He stopped going there in April when the arrears were not paid. Since then, his son had been feeding him with the little he earns at a boutique where he works.”

Another resident, who identified herself simply as Ruth, said the death of Ekue’s wife two years ago compounded his frustration.

“He had been lonely since he stopped going to work. His only son, who should have been with him, had to run around to provide food for him. Aside that, his wife died about two years ago which really shook him. I was shocked when I heard he committed suicide yesterday (Monday),” she added.

A resident, Gafar Kolawole, said the police from the Anthony division came to remove the corpse and had deposited it in a mortuary.

Relatives of the deceased declined comments when our correspondent approached them to verify the cause of the death.

However, one of them,  who did not give his name, said, “The police came and took an account of what happened. They should be in a position to tell you. This is sad news and you should not disturb us with questions, especially his son.  You can rely on the information you got from people who are aware of the incident.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the suicide, adding that Ekue’s corpse had been deposited in a morgue for autopsy.

She said, “One John Ekue allegedly hanged himself with a rope tied to the ceiling fan in his room. Detectives visited, examined and photographed the scene. The corpse was removed and deposited in a morgue for autopsy.”

Punch