A PoS operator in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has committed suicide after reportedly losing ₦2.5 million to internet fraudsters.
The incident has sparked emotional responses and calls for increased mental health awareness and protective measures for victims of online scams and cybercrime in Nigeria.
The incident which happened at Atan Ofo in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has since cast the community in a sad mood.
The young man, Utibe Eteffia, was reportedly driven to suicide after being defrauded of ₦2.5 million by suspected internet fraudsters.
Utibe, in his early 30s, ran his business near the NUJ Secretariat.
Friends and neighbours said he had been visibly withdrawn in recent weeks, sharing cryptic and emotional messages on social media.
Posts included symbolic images of candles and phrases like “Do you believe in reincarnation?”— which raised concerns about his mental well-being.
In the days leading to the incident, Utibe reportedly began giving away his belongings, including his phone and ATM details to his sister.
An acquaintance, Aniefiok Isang, said that Utibe once asked him for rat poison and later acquired it from a local chemist.
After visiting his hometown in Ini Local Government Area and spending time with relatives, Utibe was found dead on the veranda of his family home.
Reports suggested he might have ingested poison.
Though cause of death remained unverified as of press time, it was believed he was drawn into a fraudulent scheme tied to a cult-like “Yahoo Plus” group.
