‘Prosper Igboke Killed Himself After His Pastor Confined Him Instead of Getting Help for Mental Illness’
News of Prosper Igboke, a 30-year-old pastor from Abia State, who committed suicide after his lover allegedly jilted him, was a major topic among many people on social media platforms on Saturday.
Initial reports circulated on Saturday had it that the jilted pastor jumped from a two-storey building in Nnewi, Anambra State, and died afterwards.
According to the information presented in these reports, Prosper had generously sponsored his lover’s education and nurtured hopes of a future together once she completed her studies. But his dreams were shattered when his beloved partner declined his marriage proposal, leaving him devastated.
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“The incident happened last month. Prosper was 30 years old at the time of his death. His girlfriend, whom he intended to marry, disappointed him after seeing her through the university,” a line in one of the reports reads.
In a follow-up to the tragic incident involving Igboke, however, more details have come to light regarding the events leading up to his death. And contrary to initial reports, it appears that Igboke’s mental state was a key factor in the tragedy.
According to Promise Ikpe, his cousin, who clarified what happened on Facebook, Igboke returned from a pastoral engagement in Nnewi and exhibited signs of mental distress.
“Prosper went for a ministration in Nnewi, and when he came back, he had lost his senses; he wasn’t mentally coordinated. No one knew why,” Ikpe’s post reads in part.
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Ikpe said that, rather than seek professional medical help, Igboke’s pastor confined him to a room and left him in the care of others while attending a meeting.
He said the decision to not provide proper medical attention had dire consequences as Igboke reportedly jumped from the window of the room he was confined in, leading to his tragic death.
“Prosper jumped from the window of the room he was locked in. His pastor refused to give us his phone so we could investigate what happened to date. The pastor said Prosper had gifted him the phone,” Ikpe said.
“Prosper is a student(sic) and still lives with his pastor (Flame House). Prosper’s girlfriend spoke with my mom, telling her that she never betrayed him. Prosper has sent text to some of my cousins recently saying that he wants to marry.”
The post ‘Prosper Igboke Killed Himself After His Pastor Confined Him Instead of Getting Help for Mental Illness’ appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.
