Angus Anokwute: The Suicide No One Expected.
6 min read
The purely horrifying and fatalistic incident that occurred on Saturday January 4, 2025 in Umuezikeukwu Uba Umuaka still leaves many who knew Mr Angus Ankowute, a highly brilliant and versatile graduate of computer science and engineering in deep shock. On this particular day, easy going and conservative Angus was said to have taken a ladder and went to the backyard of his father’s house; used the ladder and a rope as an aid and took his own life in real cold blood under circumstances suspected to be induced by depression.
When the news got to the outside world, it was sad breaking news no one expected because nobody knew the late Anokwute, writer, author, scientist and commentator on national issues as a violent man. A woman who could not believe the bad news when Umuaka Times sought to know her opinion on the death by suicide carried out by Angus Anokwute aptly put it thus: “I will never believe this. Angus that cannot hurt a fly took his own life? It can never be true please.”
As Igbo proverb has it that, “the thinking that led to the death of someone is not a one day thinking, possibly replayed itself in the case of the late Angus Anokwute. A couple of months ago, Klub88, a group of Old Boys Association of High School Umuaka that graduated in 1988 after getting fillers from highly privileged sources contributed some money and paid a “love visit” to him. Angus was a member of the organization. During the visit, a lot of food items such as a bag of rice, beans, yam tubers, noodles and many other food items worth about N300,000 were donated to him. During the visit, his aged mother, neighbours and two siblings were around to witness the “love visit”. At the end of it, they all prayed together and Klubb88 handed over the sum of N100,000 to him and promised to come back with more.
In his response, the late Anokwute thanked his former classmates and promised to face the realities of life with hope and vigour.
Fast forward to January 4 2025, the day Klub88 members usually meet to hold talks on the welfare of her members, most of the members had gathered in the residence of Mr Gerald Ibegbulem, the president of the association to celebrate the end of the year and there came the bang! “Gentlemen, I have breaking news. Our member Angus Anokwute has just killed himself,” someone reported. The party literally came to a halt as shocks and surprises took over the happy mood of the group. Then came issues concerning the life and times of Mr Angus Anokwute which took over the centre state. Outside his immediate family members, perhaps the next group of people who were really pained by his death was Klubb88.
Klubb88, the organization that created the old boys association groupings according to their years of graduations has supported Anokwute about twice in the past with a new hope to life including moral and financial supports. It can be recalled that on the day the group paid him a “love visit”, a promise to come again was dropped in the family and kindly enough, a member of the group, paid a visit to him on January 3, 2025 the day before the execution of his suicide mission. Purpose of the visit was to make sure that the late Anokwute would attend the get-together of Klubb88 slated for the next day. A deal was struck between the fellow and the late Anokwute who did not only promise but assured the fellow that he would be at the party.
Convinced of the assurance from his fellow classmate, the fellow happily left and said to him, “See you tomorrow at the party.” Unknown to the guy and other members of the Klubb88, Angus Anokwute, the brilliant science student, author, commentator on national issues, poet and many more, was almost a ghost. There are insinuations in town that he may have already decided to end it all on the day of the party even before the visit from his fellow classmate. Anokwute achieved this without any hindrance.
The shockwaves left behind by his death were still on as at press time early this week. Some have cited depression; others cited loneliness while many more people attributed it to being spiritually induced or financial crisis. Umuaka Times local affairs correspondents have strong suspicion that it was intentional by the late Anokwute to keep people gazing as he deliberately decided not to leave any suicide note behind.
For those who never knew, the late Angus Anokwute was a highly brilliant student at High School Umuaka and in his university days too. He was always contesting for first position with the then Okorochukwu Ezeanochie (now Dr C-Fine) during his secondary school days. He would always cry any day he missed the first position during examinations era.
After secondary school, Anokwute proceeded to the university where he read computer science. Despite being a scientist, he had time to read voraciously and authored so many books. About 17 of his books are sold on Amazon. In September 2019, Anokwute granted an exclusive interview to Umuaka Times and the interview was titled, “I have written more books than Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe put together.”
Some of his book titles include: War Against Corruption: President Muhammadu Buhari Fighting Corruption With Action, Passion And Dedication, Why Wondering And Wandering, Join In The Efforts To Remake Nigeria, The Task To Make Nigeria Great Is A Task For Everyone, Let Us Think And Talk Nigeria First, You Can Still Succeed And Even Lead, Anyone Can Be A Star Who Dares To Start, Rhymes And Riddles Of Love, Meditating On His Goodness And Mercy.
Of all the books written by the late author, the one that kept surprising his fellow members of Klubb88 and perhaps the outside world is the one titled You Can Still Succeed And Even Lead. In this book, Anokwute displayed vividly the spirit of motivational speaker in him and outlined solution for people undergoing difficulties in life. Perhaps he was writing from his experience. A fellow Klubb88 member who spoke with Umuaka Times last week on the conditions of anonymity seriously expressed regrets last week as he accused Angus of not practicing what he preached. “Just check the title, You Can Still Succeed and Even Lead. After this input, he took his life. He did not in any way practice what he preached. Unless he wants to lead in the land of the dead.”
Umuaka Times findings showed that suicide has never been an option for Akalites. The people of the community are in the habit of showing love to each other. Discussions so far suggest that people should disclose their inner problems to their close confidents. Just last year, a high profile Akalite based outside the country simply named Ifeanyi also took the suicide option and ended it all. In a couple of months, the community has recorded two suicides and there is fear at some certain quarters if the third one may be recorded.
Anguslaz Anokwute who lives in Abuja, graduated from Hilltop Primary School Uba Umuaka and proceeded to High School Umuaka and he left HSU in 1988 after graduating in flying colours. He finally studied Computer Science & Engineering at Enugu State University of Science and Technology. He is into hi-tech security installations and business and an author of several books including You Can Still Succeed and Even Lead.
