Old soldier finally dies: 72-year-old Francis Dooga commits suicide in Benue

A 72-year-old man named Francis Dooga, who is believed to be a retired soldier, has reportedly been found hanging from a tree at his residence in Makurdi, near Saint Joseph Catholic Church Nyiniongun on the outskirts of the state capital.

The alleged suicide occurred on Sunday evening when the family members were away from home. According to a neighbor, who noticed the lifeless body hanging on the tree around 6 pm on Sunday, the septuagenarian, affectionately known as ‘old soldier,’ had been expressing complaints about facing hardships recently.

The neighbor reported, “The body of the ‘old soldier’ was discovered hanging on the tree in his house at around 6 pm on Sunday. It was a shocking discovery for everyone. Some individuals mentioned that he had been lamenting about financial difficulties and his inability to meet his needs and support his children and dependents.”

“There were rumors that he was defrauded of his pension money by criminals, while others claimed he was bitterly complaining about delayed pension payments, affecting him adversely. These stories were circulating, but no one can definitively state why the elderly man took his own life. We believe the police will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the actual circumstances.”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident and stated that the investigation was underway.