by crossriverwatch admin
Residents of Bayobri community in Ukpe, Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State have been thrown into confusion as a 65-year old daughter of the late Ukpe clan Head, Madam Alice Obeng committed suicide by hanging.
Her lifeless body was seen hanging from the roof of her bed room, with her tongue falling off even as she did not leave any suicide note as she is said to be illiterate.
One Julius Odey Okang who is resident in the community told crossriverwatch that Madam Obeng went to bed the previous evening after dinner, looking cheerful with no clue that she had such plans in mind.
Although reasons for her action were not known, some villagers said she had an intermittent health problem, which was always taking her in and out of hospital with no solution in sight.
Few days to the dastardly act, she was said to have complained of a resurgence of the disease, as her nephew based in Calabar, the state capital decided to arrange for N37, 000 for her to go for medical check up.
Obeng reportedly went into her apartment and left the money on the floor, and hung herself using a piece of cloth which was tied to the roof of the house.
crossriverwatch gathered that the woman was hurriedly buried about two hours after being confirmed dead as suicide is considered an abomination in the land and her act was said to have desecrated the land.
While they were in the process of digging her grave, it was gathered a daredevil criminal, sneaked into the house and stole part of the money worth N8, 000.
She was buried along with the clothes she wore and the rope with which she committed suicide, as her corpse was not bathed according to the tradition of the community.
She died leaving seven children, including five from her estranged husband, Mr. Sylvester Okang and two others born out of wedlock.
At press time, the community was making arrangements to consult its deity called Ikwong, to embark on spiritual cleansing to forestall any future recurrence.
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