Man commits suicide after losing bet on Barcelona tie against AS Roma

A young man in his mid-20s has reportedly committed suicide by hanging in the Ilorin metropolis, Kwara State after losing out in a European Champions League match bet.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the incident occurred at Oko-Erin area of the town after the return leg match between FC Barcelona of Spain and AS Roma of Italy played in Italy.

The deceased said to be an Igbo man, reportedly engaged in a betting with a friend using a motorcycle in his possession.

He was said to have bet that Barcelona FC, who were leading by 4-1 in the first leg played at Nou Camp, Spain would maintain the lead at end of the return leg and be through to the semi-final 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 FC by virtue of away goals decision.

It was also gathered that the result made the deceased to lose the motorcycle to his opponent in the bet as the opponent reportedly went away with the bike from the viewing centre immediately after the match.

People in the area said that the man was traumatized over the loss of the motorcycle as it was added that he used it for commercial purposes and for his main source of livelihood while some others said it belonged to someone else and that he only had it in his custody on behalf of the owner.

It was also learnt that the man resorted to committing suicide by hanging himself because he could not get over the tragedy that befell him.

An eyewitness, who said that many people were unaware of the incident, added that the development devastated the deceased’s Igbo kinsmen in the area who lamented the action of the man.

Speaking of the incident, the police public relations officer of Kwara state Police command, Ajayi Okasanmi, who confirmed the incident, however, said that it was not in connection with match bettings.

The PPRO explained that report available to him indicated that the man committed the suicide because of huge debt hanging on his neck saying “the man was said to have incurred debt here and there.”

He said the deceased took his life by hanging himself on a ceiling fan in his apartment.