Civil service director ‘owed 11 months salary’ commits suicide

Edward Soje, a director with the Kogi state civil service, has committed suicide by hanging himself on a tree, in the capital, Lokoja.

According to NAN, Soje’s lifeless body was found hanging on a tree close to the Maigumeri barracks of the Nigeria army, in the state capital, Lokoja.

Police reports confirm that the 54-year-old took his life some 10 days after his wife of 17 years gave birth to a set of male triplets in a private hospital in Abuja.

The couple had been childless prior to the incident.

Soje, a grade level 16 officer with the Kogi state teaching service commission, was at the time of his demise being owed 11 months’ salary arrears, NAN reports.

The family of the late Soje confirmed that in order to relieve the heavy financial burden he was experiencing, he was forced to sell his only car and a three-bedroom apartment he was building in Lokoja.

Soje had given no indication that he would take his life, having performed naming rite for his newborn sons and staying a couple of days with his family before leaving the Hosiptal, supposedly to return with supplies needed.

October 14 would be the last Soje’s wife saw of him, as days later, his body was identified at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, after a thorough search for the missing man.

Kogi state police command say all physical evidence indicates that Soje’s lifeless body, found hanging, was the result of a suicide.

William Aya, public relations officer, and assistant superintendent of Police, said that Soje’s lifeless body was found on a tree behind the barracks at about 5:55 p.m on October 16, after receiving information from the military intelligence office.

“Police moved to the scene, removed the corpse to the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja.

“Investigation is still ongoing,” Aya said.

Earlier in September, a director with the Lagos state civil service command reportedly committed suicide in his home.