A 50-year-old man, identified as Chief Ekanem Edet, committed suicide by hanging himself at Mbiabong Itam in Itu area of Akwa Ibom State. He waited until his wife and two sons went out before taking his life, allegedly leaving a suicide note in which he blamed his action on harsh economic condition.


According to a close family source, the deceased, in the suicide note, blamed government for inflicting unbearable pains and hardship on Nigerians.

A close associate of the deceased, Mr. Okon Effiong, told newsmen that Ekanem Edet was discovered dead by his friend, who went to visit him. He added that Edet was immediately buried after some traditional rites of passage were performed.

Few days to his death, the deceased complained bitterly about the current economic crunch. According to a family source, “Edet took his life, blaming his action on the prevailing hardship.”

The source added that the deceased, who deals on Ogogoro, cigarettes and other stimulants, decided to take his life when it appeared that he could no longer run his small family with the meagre earnings from his trade.