Commercial Tricycle Operator Commits Suicide in Kogi

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

Amid the current harsh economic reality in the country, a middle-aged man has committed suicide in Kogi State.

THISDAY gathered that the incident occurred at about 12:30 p.m. at Meme bridge (Ganaja road) in Lokoja metropolis yesterday.

It was learnt that the deceased, who was a commercial tricycle driver, was said to have arrived at the bridge, parked his tricycle, and jumped into the river.

Eye witness account who pleaded anonymity told journalists that the occupants of his vehicle were shocked when the deceased took his life.

The yet-to-be-identified deceased was said to have consistently blamed the current hardship faced in the country as one of the reasons decided to take his life.

Meanwhile, the remains of the deceased were yet to be recovered as at the time of filing this report.

The source said: “There is nothing anybody could do when the ‘Keke Man’ jumped into the river. When he jumped in, we saw a snake around there, and there was nothing anyone could do at that moment.”

The Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Ovye Aya, who confirmed the incident yesterday, however, said officers of the Nigeria Police Force have been mobilised to the river to recover the deceased body.

“We are yet to get details of the incident. Our officers have been mobilised to recover the body of the deceased. As soon as we get details, our unit will issue details of the sad incident,” he stated.