72-year-old retired soldier commits suicide over hardship in Benue

A 72-year-old retired soldier identified as Francis Dooga has reportedly committed suicide in Makurdi, Benue State capital.

The tragic incident occurred on Sunday, January 28, 2024, at around 6:00 pm in his residence opposite St. Joseph Catholic Church in Iniongun.

According to reports from a neighbour who spoke on condition of anonymity, Dooga, popularly known as ‘old soldier,’ carried out the drastic act while his family members were away from home.

The elderly man was found hanging from a tree in his compound.

Residents in the area have suggested that the ‘old soldier’ had been grappling with economic hardship in the days leading up to the unfortunate incident.

Allegedly, he had expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which his pension was being disbursed.

Specifically, he had voiced concerns about his Security Department Allowance (SDA), which was released by the Federal Government to the Defence Headquarters and subsequently to the military pension board.

The deceased reportedly lamented that, unlike their junior counterparts, his pension was being distributed to him in meager installments rather than in a bulk monthly payment.

“Before committing suicide, the man was always complaining of his Security Debartment Allowance (SDA) which was released by the Federal Government to the Defence Headquarters, which was in turn released to the military pension board,” a resident said.

“He said the pension was being released to them meagerly instead of in bulk monthly like their junior ones, resulting to abject poverty and abandonment by his family members.”