A 50-year-old Akwa Ibom State indigene, identified as Chief Ekanem Edet, has reportedly committed suicide.

Edet, a former Secretary of the Mbiabong Village Council, popularly called Jolly Boy, was said to have hung himself to death and was seen dangling from a rope tied to the roof of his room at Mbiabong Itam in Itu Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday.

The deceased, a father of two, in the suicide note, blamed government for inflicting unbearable pains and hardship on Nigerians.

He blamed his action on the harsh economic condition currently rocking the nation, Vanguard is reporting.

A few days to his death, the deceased reportedly complained bitterly about the current economic crunch.

A source, privy to the incident was quoted to have said, “Edet took his life, blaming his action on the prevailing hardship being experienced in this Buhari-led era.

“The deceased, who deals on Ogogoro, cigarettes and other stimulants, decided to take his life when it appeared that he could no longer run his small family with the meagre earnings from his trade,” the source added.

“He always complained that his petty business was no longer fetching him and his family basic needs such as food, clothing and fees for the children’s education.”

One Mr. Okon Effiong, a close associate of the deceased, disclosed that Edet was discovered dead by his friend, who went to visit him.

According to Effiong, the deceased was immediately buried after some traditional rites of passage were performed and that there was no point in keeping the corpse of a man who committed such an act, hence, he was buried almost immediately.

Effiong said: “He was a very sociable man and always shared his thoughts on issues. I do not know why he should consider suicide as the last option to escape from these hard times.”