Samson Philip, a 45-year-old lecturer at the Taraba State College of Health Technology, Takum, has been found dead in what police suspect to be a case of suicide.
Philip’s lifeless body was discovered in the early hours of Tuesday in his residence in Bete, Takum Local Government Area of the state.
Family sources revealed that a rope was found tied around his neck, with a bottle containing an unknown substance also recovered near the scene.
The tragic incident has thrown the academic community and residents of Takum into mourning, as colleagues and neighbours expressed shock over his demise.
Speaking on his death, a friend of the deceased, who spoke under condition of anonymity on Wednesday, said, “Earlier today, we were at Bete in Takum LGA to bid Samson Philip farewell.
“He committed suicide for reasons best known to him and God. People are speculating, but only Samson and God know what truly happened.
“Perhaps he thought of talking to a pastor but feared it might become a sermon. Or a close friend, only to have his secret passed from one friend to another,” he said.
When reached, Taraba State Police Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, James Lanshen, confirmed Samson’s death, stating that he was aware of the situation and was expecting a thorough report from the Divisional Officer in Takum.
“The incident has been reported to us. We are awaiting full data from the DPO in Takum before issuing an official statement,” Lanshen informed our correspondent Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, residents and students have paid their respects to the departed on social media, describing him as a calm and diligent professor.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")