After a lull in the spate of suicides and attempted suicides along water bodies in the metropolis, a 40-year-old man, simply identified as Adekunle John, yesterday jumped into the Lagos lagoon through the Ikoyi- Lekki link bridge. According to the police, the man, who hailed from Ondo State, dropped some of his personal belongings before plunging into the water.
As at press time, late yesterday night, his body has not been found by security operatives and fishermen who rushed to the scene minutes after he jumped in to rescue him.
Confirming the incident, LASEMA spokesman, Adebayo Kehinde, said in a statement that the agency received a distress call from the LCC officials regarding a man who reportedly jumped into the lagoon around Lekki Toll Gate Bridge at about 9:58am yesterday.
The footage, which was captured through the CCTV, shows when he suddenly pulled off his clothes and shoe. He looked around to be sure that no one was around him before he jumped into the lagoon.
The agency immediately activated its emergency response with other stakeholders, which included the Lagos State Waterways Authority, Marine Police, Lagos State Ambulance Services and the Nigerian Police from Maroko Division.
“Although the body is still missing, effort is on going to recover the body by men of the Marine Police and the Lagos State Waterways Authority who are still combing through the waters. The General Manager, LASEMA, Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu, said it would be inappropriate to release the identity of the man, but that his family had been contacted, while all items found on him were also handed over to the Nigerian Police from Maroko Division for further investigation.
The lagoon has in recent times claimed lives, as many Lagosians seemed to have found it attractive resort for suicide. Last year alone, no fewer than 12 suicide cases and five foiled attempts were recorded in Lagos within six months.
This year, the trigger that seemed to have started all these was the suicide of Dr. Allwell Chiawolamoke Oji, a medical doctor attached to Mount Sinai Hospital, Papa Ajao, Mushin.
The middle-aged unmarried medical doctor had jumped into the lagoon at Third Mainland Bridge after he ordered his driver to park his car, a Nissan Sports Utility Vehicle with registration number LND476EE. It took about four days of frantic search by law enforcement agents before his body was recovered and his family identified him. But this was after another body was found by the divers. According to those in the know, the doctor had been battling with Sickle Cell Anaemia, accompanied by severe seizures.
The same day, a woman simply identified as Emerald also attempted suicide by jumping into the lagoon from Maza-Maza Bridge in the Mile 2 area of Lagos.
