The remains of a retired captain of the Nigerian Army, Friday William, found dangling on a mango tree outside his apartment in Calabar, have been taken to his hometown in Mkpat Enin, Akwa Ibom State.

The father of eight, according to a neighbour, Abasi Imoh, allegedly tied a rope on the mango tree outside his apartment at 34, Edim Otop Street in the night while his family was asleep and hung himself for a reason yet to be ascertained.

“We woke up in the morning to behold the body dangling on the mango tree outside the compound and we do not know what was responsible for his action”. Abasi stated.

The neighbour said before hanging himself, that the retired captain reportedly sent a text message to his son, who lives in Port Harcourt at about 10pm, to condole with him over his death and advised him to be strong to take care of his siblings.

“He sent the text to his first son at about 10 pm to condole with him over his own death, but the son did not see the message until he got a call the next morning that his father had committed suicide and I feel he had tied the rope ready for the act before he sent the text”.

Abasi said the man had about three cars and got a lot of money from his retirement benefits two years ago and was living well which is the reason many people are surprised with his action.

‘He was not poor because he had three cars and had built a house in his village and was generally doing well that is why we were surprised with his action.”

It will be recalled that a new statement issued by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, today shed more light on the retirement of senior military officers on Friday.

The statement said the attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to speculations and rumours regarding the number and names of the senior Army officers affected in the recent retirement exercise.