A Nigerian man identified as Onoh Chuckwuma Richard has ended his life after losing 2.5 million Naira to betting.
The businessman took his own life on Tuesday, December 10, 2023, resorting to poisoning himself. Prior to this incident, he left distressing messages on social media and shared his despair with some relatives through WhatsApp.
Sources suggest that Richard’s dire situation can be directly attributed to the challenging economic conditions in the country, where job opportunities are scarce.
On the eve of his death, Onoh Richard posted on Facebook, declaring that it would be his final day on earth and anticipating a meeting with his maker in heaven. Subsequently, he posted a 16-second live video just hours before his suicide, revealing a swollen face and reddened eyes as he stared at his phone.
In a private conversation that has since gone viral, Richard candidly explained the reasons behind his decision while speaking to one of his contacts on WhatsApp. He wrote: “The only option is to end my life as I cannot live with the shame, Your Excellency, Sir. Please come to my rescue. I have turned into a gambler due to unemployment, and right now, I am at a point where if I don’t settle my debt, I might resort to taking my own life. I used 2,500,000 to place a bet, and 1.2 million is not my own. If I don’t pay up today, I will be dead by the time you read this message. As I type this message, I am where I want to buy Snipper.”
The incident elicited varied reactions among Facebook users, with some underscoring the adverse consequences of involvement in betting. For many, gambling, seen as a form of risk-taking, brings more harm than good.
“Although gambling may yield money, I haven’t seen any rich and successful individual who achieved stardom through gambling. It’s all about contentment; there are families here in Lagos and in the east who don’t possess such a sum of money, yet they lead happy lives,” commented Facebook user Matt Ikeowa.
Others emphasized that suicide is never a solution to life’s challenges or financial difficulties. Ayodeji Jahzmine expressed his belief that “He would want to return to his body, but it’s too late.” He added, “No condition can be worse than the condition of people in Hades. God told me it’s a place with entry but no exit.”
This tragic incident in Nigeria echoes a similar occurrence in Nairobi in 2020 when a 40-year-old man took his own life by jumping after losing at least Sh15 million while gambling at a casino.
The alarming trend of suicide following gambling losses is becoming a growing concern in Africa and the international community at large.
