Confusion as man commits suicide after church vigil

A young man has committed suicide shortly after attending a church vigil night in Lagos.

A man who allegedly committed suicide shortly after he attended a church vigil at Church of the King of Kings on Taju Bello Street, in the Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos State, has thrown the church into confusion as many are saying he may have been killed and dumped at the back of the church to make it look like a suicide.

The young man identified simply as Taofiq, a mechanic, was said to have attended a vigil in the church on Friday, March 4, but sneaked out while prayer was going on. His body was later found hanging on a tree at the back of the church, with his prayer garment was folded neatly and placed at the scene.

According to those who knew the deceased, he was a Muslim who converted to Christianity sometime last year and started attending the church, a parish of Cherubim and Seraphim, a few months ago.

A resident, who identified himself as Kareem Ibrahim, said Taofiq’s behaviour became strange about a year ago when he quit his mechanic work.

“I just opened my shop that day when a friend came to tell me that someone had died at the back of the church. On getting there, it turned out to be Taofik. He was living around here before, but I don’t know where he relocated to. When he converted to Christianity last year, he changed his name to Segun.

He was a mechanic and was living a normal life until last year when we observed that his behaviour was changed. I learnt he was defrauded of money, but I don’t know the amount. He was a bachelor.”

The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident and said that investigation was ongoing to ascertain the cause of the incident.

“The Assistant Pastor of the King of Kings Church, Mr. Odunike Abiodun, reported to the police that one Taofik committed suicide near the church, where he came for a vigil.

Detectives visited the scene of the crime and investigation is ongoing to unravel the cause of the death. His corpse has been deposited in a morgue for autopsy.”