22-yr-old Okada rider and only son of parent commits suicide in Oyo State

Bike rider popularly known as Okada man, named Ayuba Sarafa, snuffed life out of himself at Amuloko area of Olorunsogo in the Ona Ara Local Government Area of Ibadan in Oyo State on Friday September 25.

WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that, 22-yr-old Ayuba who was the only son of his late father, hanged himself in an uncompleted building beside his uncle’s house.

According to Daily Trust, the deceased was not staying with the mother because she had remarried and relocated. The bereaved mother visited the community where the incident happened, blamed “evil forces” while she wept uncontrollably.

Recounting moments before the incident and how Ayuba was discovered dead, his uncle, Kazeem Tijani, said since Ayuba went to work on Thursday morning, he didn’t see him till he went to sleep at night. His whereabouts was not known until yesterday when he called to ascertain his state. His phone was later traced to the uncompleted building where he was found hanging.

Two black plastic bags were seen on the ground with his pair of sandals also flung there.

While lamenting about his demise, his uncle briefed about the deceased’s lifestyle before his final moment, he said: “Ayuba got the motorcycle on hire purchase and he was paying the installments adequately.

“He was my brother’s son.

“He was not indebted to anyone and he was not starving at all.

“He was not married.

“He had been living with me for the past two to three years.

“He was working with me before he got the okada.

“He was initially a tailor and was doing fine.

“We have searched his room but we could not find any note that he could have left, though we could not search his body.

“I have called our relations in Apomu, they are on their way”.

His colleagues at Okada Riders Association at Amuloko described Ayuba as a very cool and easy-going man.

“The news of Ayuba’s death came to us as a rude shock.

“It was this morning that we heard of the news at the park.

“He was very reticent and would not fight anybody.

“Once he did his okada business in the morning, he would go and park and go to his uncle’s shop to assist him.

“There was no issue of threat to him from the person who gave him the okada.

“In fact, the person was like a brother to him.

“So, we are confounded over this incident,” he said.

It was learnt that the body of Ayuba was not immediately evacuated, it was left dangling at the scene of incident as traditional worshipers were making arrangements to bring it down for a sacrifice to be performed to according to them, prevent pestilence in the community.

Police officer from Akanran Division also made documentation on the incident before burial.