By BENJAMIN NJOKU

What would you do, if you retured to your home, after the day’s toiling and fund your husband’s lifeless body hanging on the hook of a ceiling fan with an electric wire tied around his neck? Scream! Dumfounded, or run out of the house in disbelief!

This was exactly the situation mama Precious, a middle -aged mother of five children, bumped into last Tuesday evening when her husband, Mr. Joseph Ebuli, decided to take his own life for just no cause.

Mama Precious, as she is fondly called by her neighbors, had gone to her shop, located a stone throw from their house, at No 6, Sikiru Rotimi Street, Ejigbo area of Lagos. That Tuesday morning, she had bade her husband goodbye and set out for her business, unknown to her that she was seeing her husband for the last time.

While in her shop, she noticed there was pandemonium within the neighborhood and upon inquiry, she was told that a man committed suicide. Immediately, she locked up her shop and hurried home but she never knew that she was in for a rude shock. As she opened the main door to their apartment, she was shocked to see her husband ‘s lifeless body hanging on the hook of their ceiling fan.

The incident which occurred around 5 pm resulted in panic as residents trooped out to the deceased’s house to behold the eyesore.

Eyewitnesses said the deceased’s 15- year -old son, Jerry, was the first to discover that his father committed suicide.

According to the eyewitnesses, the JSS 3 lad returned from school on that fateful day to discover that the door to their two-bedroom apartment was bolted from inside. Convinced that somebody was within the house, he knocked ceaselessly on the door without responses.

But when the poor boy suddenly peeped through their glass window, as the mosquito net that was used to protect the window was somewhat torn half-way, he was confronted with the fearful sight of his father hanging lifelessly from the hook of a ceiling fan in their living room.

Unable to stand the sight, poor Jerry was said to have screamed loudly and run out of the compound, an act that attracted the attention of neighbors who rushed to the scene of the incident.

The residents were said to have broken into the house, where they discovered a suicide note the deceased left for his wife on the table.

In the note, according to eyewitnesses, the middle -aged man said nobody should be held responsible for his action. Not even his wife or the landlord. He also warned that his corpse should not be taken to his home town for burial. The note started thus, “I know this may come as a surprise to many. My problem is not financial as may be widely perceived. It is due to some unseen forces and satanic powers I have battled from childhood.”

Then he continued; “To my family; forgive me for being a total disappointment. To my landlord; sorry for the embarrassment this may have caused you. But endevour to refund nine months rentage to my wife and children being January to September, 2012 at N175k per annum.

To my friends and admirers; Please know that everything that has a beginning must have an end. To Jerry and sisters; sorry, I abandoned you but God will always be with you all, amen. Jerry, be nice to your sisters. To the Police; Nobody is responsible for what happened.

So, harass or arrest nobody. My body should be left with Lagos state government via the hospital management for burial. Every one I have sinned against should please forgive me for I have forgiven every one that sinned against me, in Jesus name, Amen”

Ironically, the note was picked by his son.

Residents of the area, who spoke to Crime Alert after the police from Ejigbo Station removed the corpse from the scene at about 6 pm, and deposited it at the Isolo General hospital mortuary, expressed shock that the deceased could decide to take his own life without any cause.

“He was an easy-going young man who is loved by everybody. We call his wife mama Precious, they are nice people, we wonder why he should decide to take his own life.” the residents queried.

Strange utterance

Crime Alert gathered that few days before the man took his life, he mysteriously asked his 15- year-old son, whether he was mature enough to take care of the family when he (the father) is no more. The poor boy was said to have been gripped with fear, as he sought to know why his father decided to make such strange utterance but he never got any answer.

A native of Ubulu-Ukwu, in Delta State, and a twin, the deceased is said to be one of the prayer warriors at the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries(MFM), Double Power Line Zonal Head Quarter, Ejigbo.

One of his kinsmen who visited the scene of the incident, described the act as “a taboo in their native town.” He revealed that the deceased’s twin brother is based in the village and that it has taken long, the deceased last visited his home town.

According to him, the deceased’s parents who condemned the shameful act have warned that his remains should not be brought home for burial.

Also, “those of us who saw his corpse have been asked to come home immediately and perform certain rituals that will keep us free from any eventual curse. It is a taboo in my village for any man to commit suicide.” the young man snapped.

However, when Crime Alert called at the deceased’s residence for the first time, the wife and his five children were not around as they were taken to their pastor’s house for prayers. The landlord, who claimed to have been away when the incident happened, declined to comment.

“ I was not around when the incident happened. The matter is before the Ejigbo police station, they are in the better position to give you all the information you need.” the landlord said.

On a second visit, the deceased’s wife briefly narrated how the incident happened.

She said on that fateful day, the deceased out-rightly refused to go to work nor charge his cell phone which was down, all in the bid to perfect his plan.

“Unlike him, when I asked him if he wasn’t going to work that day, he answered me in the affirmative. He switched off his cell phone so that nobody could reach him. I never knew he was planning to commit suicide.” Mama Precious recalled.

Meanwhile, Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State, Samuel Jinadu, who confirmed the incident said the police were investigating the matter and will soon come out with their findings.