From Adedeji Joseph, Ilorin
A man in his twenties has reportedly committed suicide in Ilorin, Kwara State on Monday after losing out on a bet in the on-going European Champions League match.
Sources said the deceased, a commercial motorcyclist, whose name was not ascertained at press time was about twenty five years old and lived the in Oko-Erin area of the town, joined others to watch the return leg match on television between FC Barcelona of Spain and AS Roma of Italy, played in Italy.
Spokesman of the Kwara State Police command, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi, who confirmed the incident said however, that that the alleged suicide may not be in connection with just losing a bet.
He attributed it to the huge indebtedness of the deceased to some creditors.
According to him, he only had a report to the effect that the deceased took his own life because of a huge debt profile hanging on his neck saying; “the man was said to have incurred debt here and there.”
Okasanmi said the deceased hung himself on a ceiling fan in his apartment.
Other sources disclosed that the deceased engaged in a bet with someone using his motorcycle which he rode to the television viewing centre to watch the match.
He was described as a die-hard who was fiercely loyal to the Spanish team, which he believed could not lose to the Italian side. He did not think twice before put the bike, which did not belong to him down for the bet.
The deceased, the sources added, bet that Barcelona who had a 4-1 advantage from the first leg played at Camp Nou, Spain would maintain the lead at end of the return leg and scale through to the semi-finals of the championship.
However, the match turned out to be 3-0 in favour of AS Roma making the aggregate result to be 4-4 with Roma qualifying for the semi-final at the expense of Barcelona by virtue of the away goals rule.
The deceased watched in horror as the motorbike was driven away from the viewing centre that night, immediately after the match.
It was gathered that the sorrow of the late football fan was intense because not only was the motor bike that precious to him, it was also the source of his survival in the present harsh economic climate.
Worse, it was put in his custody to enable him earn a livelihood and remit some amount to the owner periodically.