A young man named Denis Masem was found dead after hanging himself in a palm plantation on Saturday April 14, 2012 in the Upper Muea neighbourhood, near Buea in the South West Region. Aged about 25, Denis’ bag was found lying on the ground where he committed suicide. It contained his clothes, a pair of slippers, a knife and part of the rope he used to hang himself.
Cameroon Tribune gathered from the deceased’s younger sister, Vera that Denis’ love relationship with a lady recently turned sour. She added that the girl now dates a man who is older and richer than her late brother. Vera is also said to be pregnant; a pregnancy the deceased was reportedly ready to accept.
“Denis always loved children. He was ready to cater for her pregnancy with the help of our mother,” she explained. However, it was reported that the girl had defiantly ended their relationship. Unable to accept the fact that he had lost his sweetheart to another man, Denis decided to take away his own life.
The deceased was living with his mother. Vera explained that the day before, that is Friday April 13, Denis complained to neighbours that he was not feeling well. He equally admitted that he had consumed “L’eau de javel” to kill himself. Two of his neighbours persuaded him to drink palm oil, to no avail. This according to them, would have countered the effects of the poisonous bleach. When his mother returned from work that evening, he told her that he was planning to die. The next day, she left for work, not knowing that he will make good his threat. A few hours later, a passer-by found him hanging from a tree in a palm plantation.
Judicial police agents and medical officials from the Buea Regional Hospital Annex immediately rushed to the site. After cutting the suicide rope and examining the corpse, it was conveyed to the hospital mortuary at 11:25 am for autopsy. Cameroon Tribune gathered that the corpse will not be brought back to the Upper Muea Chiefdom for burial because of the abominable nature of the death. As at press time, investigations were still continuing.
