Osun: Man, only child of his parents, kills self over hardship

• It’s gathered that, before the unfortunate incident, Femi had complained of how difficult things were, hardship and unfair treatment

In Osun, a man simply identified as Femi has committed suicide, security agencies in the south-west state have said.

He was said to have taken his own life by jumping into the Osun River from the Gbodofon Bridge in Osogbo.

It’s gathered that, before the unfortunate incident, Femi had complained of how difficult things were, hardship and unfair treatment.

He was said to have been the only child of his parent.

The spokesperson of Osun State Fire Service, Ibrahim Adekunle, said operatives of the agency were called for an emergency rescue operation when the victim jumped into the river around 10:30 am on Saturday.

Adejunle said, “We responded, but the river is overflowing and the current is strong at the moment.

“We made efforts and we are still looking for the person, but we are yet to recover the body. From what we were told, the person involved is a man.”

Also, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in the state, Kehinde Adeleke confirmed the incident.

Adeleke added that he had earlier attempted to commit suicide, but was chased away by some people who suspected his movement on the bridge.

“On July 6th, 2024, at exactly 10:30 am, a man identified as Femi, the only son of his parent and a native of Ilesha jumped into Gbodofon River.

“According to an eyewitness, before he jumped into the river, he kept saying that a group of people had beaten him mercilessly at a (fast food joint) in the Ogo-Oluwa area, which led him to decide to end his life.

“During the investigation, we interviewed a man who witnessed the incident. He mentioned that Femi initially attempted to commit suicide, but was chased away.

‘He later came back, saying he was tired of life. Shortly after, he went to the top of the Gbodofon Bridge and jumped into the river.

“As of Saturday evening, the body of the said man has not been recovered but effort is ongoing,” he said.

Earlier, an eyewitness, a vulcaniser who craved anonymity said, “I was at a spot close to the bridge working on a customer’s tyre when I looked towards the Gbodofon Bridge and I saw a man walking down from Old Governor’s Office end of the Osogbo/Gbongan.

“He stood right in the middle of the bridge and took a plunge into the Gbodofon River. People around were seized with fear after the incident.”