A young man, Joseph Abodunrin, 25, has reportedly taken his own life in the Dagbolu community of Osogbo, Osun State. His family said he had been struggling with the rising cost of living in the country, which had affected his mental health.
His cousin, Abodunrin Grace, confirmed the tragic news on her X (formerly Twitter) account. She described Joseph as someone who always encouraged others while hiding his pain behind a smile.
“I still feel shattered—so many words, yet unprocessed. You were the best brother. You encouraged us all, but you chose to voice out in a place we never imagined. You hid it all from us, going about with fake laughter and smiles. Now, we can’t get over it,” she wrote.
Joseph had shared several emotional posts before his death. In one post on 31 January, he wrote, “If not for my siblings, I would have committed suicide. Those younglings are still full of optimism, hope, and dreams that I don’t want to squash with the news of my death.”
On 24 March, the day he took his life, Joseph tweeted, “I’m sorry I failed you all. I just couldn’t do it anymore… No matter how I explain, you won’t understand!!!”
He added, “I hope you all find it in yourselves to keep fighting, to remain hopeful, never to negotiate your dreams, and to finally and eventually thrive. That is my last wish. In everything, I give glory to God. I ran my race and gave it everything I had. Finally.”
He ended the message with, “Nothing more to say… My passwords are on the first page of my diary. Goodbye!”
Earlier in March, Joseph had questioned why he was still holding on. “I have asked myself several times why I should fight and keep fighting to stay alive, and I have not found any meaningful answer,” he wrote.
He also said, “I have tried to seek help, but it only made things worse… I’m practising self-compassion throughout this whole process, regardless of whatever decision I make.”
Joseph had celebrated his 25th birthday on 6 February 2025. His body has not yet been found, even though he shared his location, Dagbolu, before his death. That location is reportedly no longer active.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, ASP Akeem Adeoye, said he had not been informed of the incident but promised to follow up. “I am not aware of it. Maybe the family does not want it public. But I will update you on any developments,” he said.
The tragic incident has sparked renewed conversations about the importance of mental health and support systems during difficult economic times.
Punch
Leave a Reply