14-yrs pregnant girl commits suicide in Benue

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

A 14 year old Secondary School Student, identified as Mick Ayo, has reportedly committed suicide on Saturday, after she got  pregnant and her mother insisted she  name the man responsible for her pregnancy.

The incident happened on Saturday at Egba in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

A neighbor who simply identified herself as Mama Enyi told our correspondent on phone that the girl who was schooling in Otukpo returned home on Thursday with signs of pregnancy.

According to her, the mother of Ayo observed some signs of pregnancy in her daughter and decided to inquire from her, if she was pregnant or not.

“It was after much pressure and threat to be taken to a clinic in the village that made the girl run away.

“She was later found in her room having taken a substance suspected to be bottle gamalin and she was rushed to the village clinic known as ‘Ghana Clinic’ in the village.

When contacted, the medical director of the clinic, Oyaje Sule popularly known as doctor Ghana said that the girl was brought to her clinic Saturday morning.

 “It is true, they brought a 14 year old girl to my clinic this morning and was suspected to have taken gamalin when her mother pressured her to disclose who was responsible for her pregnancy.

“But when the situation got out of hand, I referred her to  hospital in Obagaji, headquarters of Agatu local government, unfortunately, she died on the way.

“As I am talking to you, the girl whose age was between 13 and 14 year old had been buried, unfortunately, she lost her father a few years ago.

The chairman of the local government, Melvin James however confirmed the development, saying that it was true that the girl committed suicide after she was found pregnant.

“The bone of contention is that she came home from school three days ago for the annual Egba  day celebration. She is about 14 years old. 

The mother suspected the pregnancy and interrogated her and as a result, she took some thing whether sniper or God knows and next morning they found her dead. So that is what happened”, Ejeh said.

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Ejeh, who is the chief security officer of the local government, advised young girls to listen to the advice of their parents, saying that what their fathers and mothers can sit down in one place and see, even if they stand on ten stories buildings they can’t see it.

The chairman also enjoined young girls to always confide in their parents and avoid being hasten to commit suicide, adding that no parents would want to give a wrong advice to his or her children.

He maintained that pregnancy or any form of challenge  should not be a setback to  end their lives, adding that they should confront the issue headlong, confide in their parents rather than taking laws into their hands by committing suicide.

Effort to get the reaction of the Benue State command Police Public Relations Officer CSP, Catherine Anene  proved abortive as her phone was switched off.