LOKOJA, Nigeria – Kogi State grappling with questions and sorrow, a tricycle driver ended his life by jumping from the Meme Bridge.
The episode unfolded around 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, near the popular Dunamis Church.
The unidentified man reportedly parked his tricycle—locally referred to as “Keke”—at the edge of the bridge before leaping into the river below.
Eyewitnesses at the scene were unable to prevent the tragic act.
“There was nothing anybody could do when the Keke Man jumped into the river. When he jumped, we saw a snake, and there was nothing anyone could do at that moment,” an anonymous witness told journalists.
As of the time of this reporting, efforts to recover the deceased’s body have proven unsuccessful.
The Kogi State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, confirmed the incident to journalists but indicated that details remain scant.
“We are yet to get details of the incident. Our officers have been mobilized to recover the body of the deceased. As soon as we get details, our unit will issue details of the sad incident,” Aya said.
The perplexing sight of a snake in the river immediately after the man jumped adds an eerie dimension to an already devastating situation.
As the community mourns, many are seeking answers, not just about the act itself but also about the strange and unsettling circumstances that seemed to accompany it.
The incident has reignited conversations around mental health and societal pressures, particularly among informal sector workers like tricycle riders, who often face stressful working conditions and financial strain.
It has also led to calls for increased surveillance and safety measures on the bridge, which has been a site of past suicides.
As the police continue their investigation, the community waits for answers, the bridge stands as a somber reminder of a life lost too soon, and a snake in the river becomes a symbol of mysteries yet unsolved.
