by ‘Jola Sotubo

A cleric in Lagos, who is said to have attempted suicide twice, succeeded in ending his own life after a 3rd try.

Gabriel Oyebode, said to be the pastor of a popular pentecostal church in the Ikorodu area of the state, reportedly hung himself in a wooded area last month.

The deceased is said to have previously attempted to kill himself first in January 2013 and then more recently by trying to jump into a canal in the hopes of drowning.

The Nation reports:

One of his neigbours, who spoke in confidence, said: “But for his vigilant wife, who reported him to his family members, he would have killed himself last January. His second attempt also failed because those who saw him when he went to a nearby canal frustrated his attempt to drown in the canal.”

Our reporter gathered that he was making preparation to visit the headquarters of the church in order to see the General Overseer when he hanged himself in a nearby bush.

A family friend, who asked for anonymity, said: “We heard that he was to visit the headquarters of the church before he went to a nearby bush in the neighbourhood and hanged himself. It was pathetic to see the dangling body of a church leader who should offer homilies to those contemplating suicide.”

It was gathered that the remains of the cleric was later buried in his house on Ayorinde Kadejo Close, Owutu Ishawo, Ikorodu amid tears by members of his church, relatives and associates who described him as a very hard-working and zealous church cleric.