Scammed retired solder, 72, commits suicide, another man to die for murder
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
A retired soldier, Francis Dooga, 72, has committed suicide in his compound in Makurdi for not been able to cope with hardship after he was reportedly scammed of his savings.
The “Old Soldier”, as he was popularly called, took his own life around his home opposite St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at Nyiniongun, a suburb of Makurdi in Benue.
He hanged himself on a tree on Sunday without leaving any note behind, causing confusion in his neighbourhood as to what might have pushed him into killing himself.
A resident of the area, who did not want to be named, said none of the man’s family members was around when he committed suicide.
“It was when one of the family members came in around 6pm yesterday [Sunday] that he saw the body of the retiree dangling on a tree within the house that he raised the alarm. It was the alarm that drew the attention of neighbours to the house,” the source disclosed, per Daily Post.
Another resident of the area recounted the “Old Soldier” had complained of hardship after falling into the hands of people who defrauded him.
Benue Police Command spokesperson Catherine Anene, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed “We have the report and investigation is ongoing.”
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Court sentences man to death for killing his brother
In a separate case of death down South West, an Ado Ekiti High Court has sentenced a 42-year-old man to death by hanging for killing his half-brother, per reporting by The PUNCH.
Arowolo Sunday was arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Familoni on 5 November 2021 on a one-count charge of murder, according to the charge sheet which said he killed his half-brother Arowolo Dare on 9 April 2021 at Ikogosi in Ekiti.
The offence contravenes Section 391 (1) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
In his statement to the police, the 15-year-old son of the deceased said: “I went to the farm with my father. On our way back, I was trekking in front of my father’s motorcycle to avoid a bad portion of the road. I waited for my father to climb on the motorcycle.
“Suddenly, my father’s brother, Mr Arowolo, appeared from the bush with an already set big iron trap. He trapped my father on his arm and fell. He used a small wooden pestle to hit my father on his head and chest, and he left him in a pool of blood. I tried to release the trap but it was too strong for me.
“Sunday Arowolo reappeared with a stick to hit me. He was chasing me but he fell. I ran to the nearby villagers for help. They told me they could not dare ‘Sunday’. I went to town to inform our families. They came with a motorcycle and took him to the hospital, where he later died.”
Police prosecutor Oluwaseun Olasanmi called seven witnesses and tendered as exhibits the defendant’s statement, pictures of the deceased, and a death report, among others.
The convict spoke in his defence through his counsel and called two witnesses.
Familoni ruled that “Upon the totality of the evidence adduced by the prosecutor, I am satisfied that the prosecution has satisfactorily proved the ingredients of the alleged offence of murder of Arowolo Dare against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.”
The Judge found the defendant guilty, convicted him of the murder, and ordered he be hanged by the neck until he dies.