Police authority in the Federal Capital Territory said yesterday that it has commenced investigation into an alleged suicide by one Mr. Federick Onigbo of Gwarimpa Estate in Abuja.

Federick Onigbo was said to have committed suicide on the eve of the New Year following some economic hardship and unknown family issues.

Speaking on the development, FCT Police spokesperson, DSP Altine said the Police had commenced investigations into the alleged suicide, adding that until such is completed, the allegation of suicide cannot be substantiated.

She said information available to the Police revealed that some residents noticed fire outbreak in a house at Gwarimpa and promptly reported to the fire service which rushed down to put off the fire.

Thereafter, one of the occupants of the house was rushed to General Hospital, Kubwa where he eventually died.

According to sources, when some persons, including wife of the deceased, Uchechukwu reported a case of a missing person at the police station, investigation showed that the fire outbreak involved Onigbo.

The Reasons Behind it

On Tuesday 31st December 2013, there was a report of how a middle aged man in Abuja set himself ablaze when many other families are rejoicing and preparing to usher in a new year.

As at the time of that report, the details of the person involved and the reasons behind the ugly act were still been speculated.

His identity has however been unearthed and the reasons adduced for setting himself ablaze has been made known.


According to reports by the Africa Independent Television (AIT), the deceased man is known as Mr. Fredrick Onuigbo. He reportedly walked out of his house that fateful day by 6 am, bought fuel and set himself ablaze behind NNPC Filling Station in Gwarimpa Abuja.

Below are the reasons adduced for committing suicide:

He got an ejection threat from the Landlord;
He has 7 Children all of whom are out of school;
His mother’s corpse was still lying in the mortuary;
He has no single food in his house;
He had earlier lost his business,
He was faced with loan repayment from a Microfinance bank…. all hope was lost and he succumbed to economic threat in Nigeria.

According to the family members, Late Fredrick could no longer understand the definition of “Economic Growth” on the pages of newspaper and Television.

He wondered why “Economic Growth” is no longer about food on table, roof above the head, affordable medical facilities, good education…. he was caught in the web of economic depreciation which has been choking him for years now.