A coroner in the United Kingdom has concluded that 27-year-old Nigerian woman Beatrice Solomon died by suicide, following an inquest into her death in Stoke-on-Trent. Coroner Li Hammond-Naylor delivered the ruling after hearing evidence about the circumstances surrounding her death on March 4, 2026.
Coroner's Ruling and Condolences
“It is clear to me that Beatrice had researched and planned how to take her own life,” Hammond-Naylor said, adding: “I can only extend my sincere condolences to Beatrice's family and friends.” The coroner's statement underscored the deliberate nature of her actions.
Discovery of Beatrice Solomon's Body
Beatrice's husband, Damian Butler, 40, told the inquest that he had left their home on Norris Road at approximately 4:30 p.m. to carry out his delivery job. Returning about two hours later, he found her unresponsive. Police Constable Hinchliffe informed the hearing that paramedics responded shortly after being contacted, but Beatrice was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:21 p.m. Investigators determined that no third party was involved in her death. Pathologist Dr. Jones testified that the cause of death was oxygen deprivation.
Mental Health Struggles and Background
Beatrice had relocated from Nigeria to Stoke-on-Trent in November 2023 on a skilled worker visa, taking up employment as a carer. According to the Stress Manager, @eakpe, the Nigerian woman is survived by her young son and her siblings. Butler told the inquest that his wife's mental health had deteriorated over the 12 months before her death, which he linked to ongoing difficulties she faced with Stoke-on-Trent City Council. He also disclosed that he subsequently learned she had made two earlier attempts on her life before March 4, 2026.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please reach out to a crisis helpline. In Nigeria, contact the Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) via their support channels.
Related Tragedies in Nigeria
In a separate incident, a 19-year-old identified as Timilehin Faith Opesusi reportedly took her life in the Odogunyan area of Ikorodu, Lagos state, on Monday, May 12, 2025, following the release of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results. She scored 190, which was below her 2024 score. It was gathered that the tragic incident took a shocking twist as the teenager received a provisional admission notification via her Gmail account 30 minutes after her death.
Additionally, a 14-year-old secondary school student in Benue state named Nicknes Ayo took her own life after being pressured by her mother to disclose the identity of the person responsible for her pregnancy. The spokesperson of the Benue state police command, Catherine Anene, is yet to release an official statement regarding the incident.
