A middle-aged man, Benjamin Ode Nweha, of Ndierukwu Agbaenyim Ndieze Community, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has reportedly committed suicide after one of his wives gave birth to a set of twins.
Nweha, married to two women, had 10 children before one of his wives delivered the twins.
The Point learnt that Nweha took his life on July 19, 2024 when his family members and neighbours were still celebrating the birth of the new set of twins.
Confirming the incident to The Point, the village head, Lawrence Nwibo, narrated that Mrs. Catherine Ode gave birth to a set of twins and developed complications, which led to her death on July 12, 2024.
According to the village head, Nweha committed suicide about seven days after the wife gave up the ghost just after delivery.
Nwibo suspected that Nweha might have committed suicide due to his inability to bear the shock of his wife’s demise and the financial burden that the new babies would bring upon him.
Neighbours were said to have discovered the lifeless body of Nweha dangling on a noose in his sitting room before alerting the Police.
“When we found the decomposing body of Mr. Benjamin Ode Nweha in his personal sitting room, we contacted the Police from Iboko Divisional headquarters and a team came to the scene, recorded video and took pictures.
“Thereafter, the lifeless body was evacuated on the instruction of the Police and buried, while the Chairman of Izzi Local Government Area, Hon. Steve Nwakpa, declared his intention to sponsor the upkeep of the newly born twins at one of the orphanage homes in the area,” Nwibo said.
When contacted, the Chairman of Izzi Local Government Area, Steve Nwakpa, confirmed the report and advised citizens against taking their own lives.
“The sad incident happened at a place called Agbaenyim a couple of weeks ago. A woman died while giving birth to two beautiful babies. A boy and a girl, then the husband took his own life. It is completely unlike who we are. It is not what anybody should entertain. So, immediately I was alerted about it, I went there with my team, rescued the twins, took them to the hospital for treatment and they were admitted to an orphanage home owned by the Sudan United Mission at Offianka, where we made a cash deposit and took full financial responsibility.
“We always tell our people that the primary responsibility of the government is to cater for the welfare of the people, especially the indigent, vulnerable and the less privileged. And as I always say, any government that decides to look away, that government is not worthy of existence, that is why we are a government,” he said.
Condemning suicide and urging the people to approach his office whenever things get tough for them, Nwakpa said, “I would advise our people that there is no need to take your own life, anytime things get too tough for you, please come to the office of Izzi Local Government Chairman at Iboko and complain or call me on phone, I am always accessible anytime. We must find a way to help you. My gate is always open from 7am to 8pm daily. People should please learn how to approach authorities, that is why we are local government, not city mayors. We are supposed to be with the people and assist them to attain their needs and mingle with them at all times.
“As for other children of the family, we are providing food items and from September, we will enroll the oldest daughter who is about 12 years in a nearby secondary school. I am not aware he has up to 10 children, maybe, I will make more inquiries and know how best to help out,” he assured.
