14-year-old secondary school girl in Benue commits suicide over mother’s pressure on pregnancy

A 14-year-old Secondary School Student, named as Nicknes Ayo, has committed suicide after her mother exacted pressure on her to name the man who made her pregnant.

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

A neighbour who called herself Mama Enyi told this medium that the girl who was schooling in Otukpo returned home on Thursday with signs of pregnancy.

“Her mother, who noticed some signs of pregnancy, inquired from her if she was pregnant or not. It was after much pressure and a threat to be taken to a clinic in the village that the girl ran away.

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

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

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

“But when the situation was getting out of hand, I referred her to the 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 put between 13 and 14 years old had been buried. Unfortunately, she lost her father a few years ago.

Efforts to get the reactions of the chairman of the local government, Melvin James, were unsuccessful, as his phone was switched off.

Also, Catherine Anene, the Police Public Relations Officer for the State Command, did not pick up her phone when contacted.