By Sunday Ogli, Makurdi

A 72-year-old retired soldier, Francis Dooga, has reportedly committed suicide in his compound opposite St Joseph Catholic Church, Nyiniongun, a suburb of Makurdi, Benue State capital.

He was said to have hung himself to death on a tree at his residence.

A neighbour who pleaded anonymity, said the deceased popularly known as ‘old soldier’ ended his own life while other members of his family were away from home.

The neigbour who said the body of the retiree was found dangling at about 6:00pm last Sunday wondered why he took the decision to take his own life.

Although family members of the deceased declined to speak on the incident, some residents of the area alleged that the late army retiree had earlier complained of hardship.

It was also gathered that the deceased had complained about being defrauded of his pension money by unscrupulous persons around him while the inability of the pension board to pay the money in bulk instead of piecemeal worried him tremendously.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the Police in the state, SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident in a text message.