Lagos lagoon an attraction for suicide: Is it going to get better or worse?

By Matthew Ma

“Nigeria has seen a tremendous rise in the coverage of suicide cases across the country. From university undergraduates to working-class citizens, old, young, rich, or poor, experts say these crimes of self-harm are bound to get worse.”

Once again, news coming from Lagos revealed that a young Nigerian lady recently dropped from a car, sped off to the edge of the bridge, and jumped into the Lagoon. Eyewitness accounts disclosed that the incident happened in a flash when suddenly the lady alighted from an Uber and plunged into the Lagoon. The Uber driver revealed that an argument had ensued between the lady and her husband before she hopped out and dived into the Lagoon. A few years ago, suicide was almost a strange occurrence in the Nigerian climate. It was rare for people to wake up to the news that their otherwise easygoing co-tenant or acquaintance had committed suicide. The resilience of a quintessential Nigerian and his emotional and mental fortitude make suicide the last thing on his mind. But recent events have, however, altered this entire hypothesis. Activities in the past few years have shown that Nigerians are not, after all, immune from suicide. Suicide cases are far too many. There is hardly a day that suicide cases would not occur in parts of the country, especially with the current downturn in the nation’s economy that has forced many into poverty and depression. Sometimes, there are suicide notes, and other times there is none. But when a suicide occurs, people often wonder why such a person could take his life. No matter the story or how pathetic the situation for the suicide victim might be, time and again, Nigerians do not approve of it, partly because of our cultural experience that, in many societies in Nigeria, identify suicide as taboo.

The pattern of suicide trends in the Lagoon is becoming worrisome. The Lagos Lagoon, which is more than 50 km long and 3 to 13 km wide, is a beauty to behold. It is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a long sand spit 2 to 5 km wide, with swampy margins on the lagoon side. The Lagoon is reasonably shallow, not plied by marines but by smaller vessels and boats. However, apart from fishing, the Lagoon has suddenly become an attractive suicide spot. But amid the many interesting spectacles to behold, like fishing and other routine activities, which make the Lagoon a beautiful place, why has it suddenly become an attractive suicide spot? Why are Nigerians devising a new tendency to think that there is an oceanic kingdom in the Lagoon where all their problems and burdens will vanish? It is only hardship in the land that would create that possibility.

The recent pattern of suicide trends in Lagos Lagoon is the result of depression. The causes of depression are complex and depend on the specific disorder and individual. The most common view, however, is that depression precipitates from an amalgamation of genetic vulnerability and environmental stressors. One evident reason for the cause of depression in Nigeria is the ranging economic recession in the country. From all indications, the nation’s poor financial situation has increased the number of citizens who have become depressed. According to experts, the amount of marital violence occasioned by breakups is because of economic woes within the family. There have been reports of men absconding from home to escape growing financial responsibilities. We now have people committing suicide because of being overburdened with severe domestic pressures. The worst case of suicide happened in 2017 when a medical practitioner jumped into the Lagos Lagoon from the Third Mainland Bridge. According to media reports, the deceased, Dr. Allwell Orji, suddenly asked his driver to park at the third mainland bridge while receiving a call. He then came out of the vehicle and jumped into the Lagoon. The incident occurred yesterday evening on the bridge between Adekunle and Adeniji on the Third Land Bridge on Lagos Island. Days after a Lagos-based medical practitioner committed suicide by jumping into the Lagos Lagoon, the police recently rescued two women who attempted to jump into the Lagoon from the Third Mainland. One of them, Titilayo Momoh, 65, a textile dealer at Lagos Island, disclosed that she was tired of living with an enormous debt hanging on her neck. She said the problem she faced was too much for her. Hence, she wanted to go back to God. According to her, if God could not address her crisis, it was better to return to him. According to her, she has been abandoned by those that should help her, including her son. Fortunately, the RRS did not grant her wish as they prevented her from jumping into the Lagoon. On her part, Mrs. Abigail Olayinka, 61, caught the picture of a frustrated woman whose life has been unfair. Childless, poor, and saddled with the burden of taking care of her husband with a stroke, suicide seemed a better option. When told that suicide is a crime under the law, Mrs. Olayinka blatantly disagreed with the position of the law. 

In December 2021, a 21-year-old man, Odunare Olalekan, allegedly committed suicide by jumping into a lagoon at Epe in the Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State. A viral video shows Olalekan sitting on the handrail of Berger Bridge and suddenly jumping into the Lagoon. Before he dived into the Lagoon, a voice in the video asked Olalekan what was wrong with him and why he wanted to end his life. According to sources Olalekan, who left a one-year-old baby behind, had told his father, Mr. Odunare, to pray for him. He also told his girlfriend to take care of his baby before heading to the Lagoon. He then proceeded to the bridge to commit suicide by jumping inside it without giving any reason for such action to his family. Olalekan was a holder of an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) certificate and a worker at Alaro City, a mega estate along the Lekki-Epe Expressway. In February 2022, officers of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos rescued a woman who attempted to commit suicide by jumping into a Lagoon. The police, who were on patrol on the Third Mainland Bridge, restrained the woman from jumping into the Lagoon. According to a statement by the RRS, the woman decided to commit suicide because her husband fought her. In June same year, a man was rescued by patrol officers of the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) after he attempted to jump into the Lagos lagoon. According to reports, the man wanted to commit suicide because of personal issues. In the video, the LCC officer on patrol moved the man away from the bridge by pleading with him not to end his life. We could hear other people at the scene begging him not to commit suicide, adding that “there was hope for the future.” In October 2022, a viral video captured a man jumping into a Lagoon in Lagos State after his employees accused him of stealing an undisclosed amount of money. According to reports, the man ended his life at the Idumota Bridge, Lagos Island. A Facebook user identified as Ngozi Blessing disclosed this incident when he posted videos of the moment the aggrieved man told onlookers about his plight and plunged into the river. Blessing, in her post, said the man decided to kill himself after his employees arrested him and accused him of stealing an undisclosed amount of money, which he denied. Another video corroborated Blessing’s claim as the man started explaining to those who gathered to persuade him not to end his life. According to the man, he could not watch himself suffer at the hands of those who wrongly accused him of stealing money he could not afford to pay back. On November 11, 2022, a tragedy occurred when a young lady in her mid-30s jumped into the Lagoon from the third mainland bridge. The woman was identified later as Adetutu Adedokun, a staff of the country’s secret police known as the Department of State Services (DSS). A report published by Channels Television confirmed that Adedokun was an unarmed combat instructor who DSS recently hired her. She alighted from an Uber taxi car on the bridge and plunged into the Lagoon. The taxi driver claimed Ms. Adedokun was having a heated conversation with her bride-to-be before she alighted from the taxi and jumped into the Lagoon. 

With the suicide rate escalating in Lagos, the questions for our reflection are: Why is the increasing rate of suicide a growing concern among the poor, youth, and the wealthy? What problems or challenges could make one take his own life? Why the recent increase in suicide? Could it be the hardship or depression caused by the economic recession that sparked suicide? Are government and Nigerians doing enough to curb the menace? Could the action have been intentional, psychological, or induced by unseen external forces? These pertinent questions beg for answers to unravel the causes and effects and proffer solutions to the menace. For the past four years, Nigeria has seen a tremendous rise in the coverage of suicide cases across the country. From university undergraduates to working-class citizens, old, young, rich, or poor, experts say these crimes of self-harm are bound to get worse. Psychologists and mental health experts have said that suicide cases will continue to rise as long as Nigerians believe they have no more hope. People opt to end their lives when they think there is no other way out of their predicament (social and economic problems or otherwise). Irrespective of age, level of education, or religious belief, once the psyche of a person experiences trauma such as loss, abuse, intense stigmatization, or feelings of isolation, depression is not far away. In a highly religious ethnocentric society like Nigeria, depression comes in many forms and is not solely spiritual. Anyone can get depressed regardless of their beliefs. They begin to experience deep sadness, worthlessness, appetite loss, lack of interest in the things they once enjoyed, and withdrawal from friends. If they don’t seek help, it results in self-harm.

Preventing suicide should be a collective responsibility of everyone. Governments, organizations, churches, parents, and family members must work together toward its prevention. We should show more support by being around them, being there for them, showing kindness towards them, and spending quality time with them. Preferably, we should be sensitive to what triggers mental health complications in people’s lives. Hence, to stem the current tide of suicide across the country, the Federal Government must make concerted efforts to fix the economy. The government should work towards creating awareness in terms of mental health, sensitizing people to the dangers inherent in keeping to oneself and not opening up to people around. The government should create more platforms for people to seek help when battling addiction, depression, and mental health problems. Although booking a session with a therapist is expensive, the government should make the platform affordable to people and also at a cheaper rate. They should understand that the mental health of the people they govern is fundamental. Hence, when the government played its role, people would then be able to cope with stress (whether physiological, physical, or economic). NGOs, the media, and relevant government agencies should intervene in the futility of suicide. They should assist in recommending people with mental health to mental health experts or healthcare professionals to treat them. The concept is reminiscent of the recent case of the late Mrs. Folake Abiola, an accountant whose suicidal tendencies stemmed from the depression she had been dealing with for years. A colleague revealed that she displayed suicidal tendencies, but until her death, her mental health indicators did not receive any help. We could have avoided this tragedy if she had received proper medical attention. 

There is this misconception that mental illness will vanish if the person prays enough. While God may divinely choose to heal any physical or mental illness, God also provides us with doctors, scientists, and mental health professionals with the skills and understanding necessary to help people successfully manage their condition. Just as broken bones or cancer need treatment with more than prayer, mental health disorders need professional interventions. For many people, psychotherapy is an essential part of treatment to help them work through trauma or chronic stress, which can trigger or worsen mental illness. Churches can combat this misconception by encouraging those wrestling with depression and anxiety to seek care that is appropriate to their needs. Having qualified counselors, psychiatrists, and other experts can be helpful, but only if those who need care are aware of this resource.

Can these social networks also be used for good? I believe they can because they provide a forum for dialogue. There is growing evidence that the internet and social media can influence suicide-related behaviors. The essential question of whether this impact poses a significant threat is what we need to address. Video-sharing of people committing suicide has gained prominence and popularity in Nigeria, especially since the creation of YouTube and WhatsApp. The utmost concern is that while someone is attempting suicide, another is recording and posting it on social media platforms. This attitude is an alarming trend that fosters communities in which suicide is encouraged and thus increases the risk of more suicidal behavior. So, social media influencers should help us share information online that conveys the ordeal of suicide to parents and friends of victims. The use of social media platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok should connect people to the world. Online communication should improve the quality of our friendships. Sharing suicidal content on Facebook can generate more suicidal behavior among the youth. Hence, social media influencers should create awareness about the dangers of suicide than share suicidal content to garner more views. At the family level, we should open more channels of communication. Some signs that someone might be thinking or planning to commit suicide include a change in behavior or the presence of entirely new behaviors. When a person is always talking or thinking about death or killing himself, when someone loses interest in things he used to care about, or he says he is worthless, helpless, or hopeless, it is time to check on such a person. A supportive family environment, healthy relationships among the family members, and open communication may help prevent such behaviors. 

We applaud the law enforcement agencies for quickly thwarting recent suicide attempts along the Lagoon. As our society moves forward in meeting this challenge, it is critical that we not lose sight of the fact that the overwhelming majority of the men and women in the policing profession chose to become police officers to do good, protect our communities, and serve their fellow citizens. At its core, policing is a noble profession made up of individuals who have dedicated their lives—and often lost their lives—in service to the public. While we all recognize that the policing profession must continue to evolve, it is imperative that we not paint the career with a broad brush highlighting only the bad and overlooking the immense amount of good done by officers in communities across this nation every day. Therefore, we call on our security agencies to be swifter and more vigilant along the Lagos Lagoon.

Rev. Ma, S.J, is a Jesuit Catholic priest and doctoral student in public and social policy at St. Louis University in the state of Missouri, USA.