The youth President of Polaku Community, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Rapheal Ebezpeke, was found dead hanging in the community bush on Monday.
The 40-year-old father of two was said to be battling with mental-related issues before the sad incident that threw the community into mourning occurred.
The deceased, according to sources within the youth body in the community, allegedly killed himself after several warnings and attempts that he was going to kill himself because of unseen forces threatening to take his life.
According to sources, “Raphael usually talks about unseen forces trailing his life and trying to kill him. There was a time in January when he also ran out of the house into the same bush, but later he came back to the house.
“The deceased was in the house and suddenly ran out and started screaming, “they want to kill me, they want to kill me” by the time we could trace him to the bush, we saw him hanging on the tree.”
According to a youth leader in Gbarain community, who confirmed the death, “Unfortunately, we lost Raphael. I know he had some mental issues, so I used to personally counsel him and introduce him to a healthy lifestyle. Whenever we see him with some persons associated with hard drugs, we also caution him to desist from such persons.”
“He was always saying there were people after his life, and they wanted him dead. On whether it was murder and not suicide, we don’t think it was murder and we haven’t also suspected anybody, but he might have taken his life. What a pity!
