Zambia: The police force in North-western Province has received reports of suicide in the Kayuka village in Chief Nyakaseya’s area of Ikelenge District. The victim has been identified as 20-year-old Tidolu Katoka who committed suicide by hanging himself.
The reports suggest that the victim hanged himself using a mosquito net after a misunderstanding with his biological mother.
The officials have shared that the incident occurred between Friday 22nd December, 2023 at around 18:00 hours and Wednesday 27 December 2023 at around 09:00 hours in Kayuka area of Chief Nyakaseya in Ikelenge district.
“The matter was reported on Wednesday 27th December, 2023 at 16:40 hours by Richard Kayuka of village Kayuka in Kayuka area Chief Nyakaseya in Ikelenge district on phone also a Community Crime Prevention Unit officer (CCPU) in the same area, “ Moola said.
Commanding officer said Katoka reported the circumstances of the incident during the phonecall. According to him, the victim had a misunderstanding with his 52 year old mother on Friday, December 22. The mother and son lived in the same house and had an argument.
At this point the deceased got upset and left home around 18:00 hours. According to the North Western Province Commanding officer, when the family observed that he had not returned for several days, the following day, the family members with the help of CCPU members started looking for him only to find his body hanging.
“The body was discovered on December 27, 2023 at around 09:00 hours hanging on a tree with a mosquito net tied around his neck in the bush close to the villagers’ fields about 15 kilometres from the villages,” Police Commanding Officer Moola revealed.
Moola said the deceased body was found in a decomposed state and relatives have been advised to bury and mark the grave for any possible action. The officials have further stated that no foul play is being suspected and an inquiry file has been opened into the case.
The reactions of the family have not been recorded by the investigating officers. Meanwhile, people on social media have expressed their condolences on the sad incident.
