The sleepy community of Ngwaiyiekwe in Ugwunagbor local council of Abia
State was on Saturday stricken with shock when a retired custom officer,
identified as Mr. Eke Nweke allegedly took a locally made pistol and shot
himself.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that Nweke, who is said to be a native of Item
in Bende local council Area of the state died before he could be taken to
the hospital.
Though it is not yet clear why Nweke had to commit suicide, rumours making
the rounds in the community have it that the ex Customs man had attempted
a failed suicide in Port Harcourt , Rivers State before he was relocated to
his in-law’s house in Ngwaiyiekwe community.
He was said to have been relocated to his in-laws house in the community to
ensure that he would be closely monitored to avoid a repeat of the failed
suicide incident.
According to a resident of the community, “around 4am, we heard a loud
noise and because there was no light at that time, we could not rush out.
But we all stayed awake listening attentively. Shortly afterwards, we heard
wailing coming from their (victim’s) end. We came out and saw the man dead
in the pool of his blood.”
The source added that the deceased left no suicide note leaving his
in-law’s household bemused as they could not understand what led Nweke into
killing himself.
“The only thing they (the family) told us was that the man caught them by
surprise. They said the man went out while other members of the family were
sleeping and shot himself. They said it was the sound of the gun that woke
them up.”
Our correspondent learnt that the pistol has been handed over to Ugwunagbo
Police Division under whose jurisdiction the incident took place.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Abia State Command, ASP
Geoffrey Ogbonna was unavailable for comments. However, a Police officer at
the Ugwunagbor Division confirmed the incident.