A 66-year-old man, John Ekue, on Monday committed suicide over unpaid salaries in the Mende area of Maryland, Lagos state.

It was learnt that Ekue hanged himself to the rod of a ceiling fan in his apartment on Oki Lane around 8pm.

The victim had reportedly not been paid for 5 months at a paint company where he worked as a driver.

According to reports, the victim used to earn N30,000 but became frustrated when he was started being owed. It was learnt that his only son, identified simply as IK, a salesman, had been supporting him with his meagre wages.

Simon Davies, a resident said IK had gone to buy food for the victim when the incident happened.

He said, “His son had gone to buy food for him that evening. But when he returned, he saw his father’s body dangling from a rope and he raised the alarm. People went into the room to help rush him to a hospital, but he died.

“The main cause of the incident is the non-payment of his salaries by a paint company he worked for as a driver. I learnt he earned N30,000 monthly and the company owed him five months’ salaries. He stopped going there in April when the arrears were not paid. Since then, his son had been feeding him with the little he earns at a boutique where he works.”

One of the victim’s relative said, “The police came and took an account of what happened. They should be in a position to tell you. This is sad news and you should not disturb us with questions, especially his son. You can rely on the information you got from people who are aware of the incident.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the suicide, adding that Ekue’s corpse had been deposited in a morgue for autopsy.

“One John Ekue allegedly hanged himself with a rope tied to the ceiling fan in his room. Detectives visited, examined and photographed the scene. The corpse was removed and deposited in a morgue for autopsy,” she said.