An Ondo town businessman, Akinbolusere Kayode Roland, popularly known as Tolufe, has reportedly died in a suspected suicide after recording a video in which he discussed business setbacks, acknowledged his wife’s support and expressed his wishes concerning his properties.
According to information gathered by 9News Nigeria reporters and their review of the recording, Roland spoke about difficulties affecting his business, including the breakdown of three machines reportedly used in his factory. His death was reported on Thursday, October 29, although the precise circumstances surrounding it remain unclear.
In the recording, made inside a vehicle, he expressed frustration over his circumstances and reflected on his journey from working as a barber to establishing his businesses.
He spoke warmly about his wife of many years, Adenike, recalling her support when he had little and was struggling to earn a living. He acknowledged her contribution to his progress and accepted responsibility for difficulties in their relationship.
Roland also mentioned their three adult children, reportedly based in Canada, and expressed his intention for his wife and children to inherit his properties and other assets. The legal status of any will has not been established.
The businessman reportedly owned Esther Estate and operated other enterprises in Ondo town, including a block-making factory said to have been in operation for nearly 20 years.
Peoples Gazette reported that the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, Abayomi Jimoh, confirmed the businessman’s death. However, the available reporting does not establish the precise circumstances or a confirmed cause of death.
The business difficulties he described bring attention to the emotional pressures that can accompany financial uncertainty and the struggle to sustain a livelihood. For business owners, disruptions to operations can affect income, obligations to workers and the welfare of families who depend on them.
However, the recording alone does not establish that economic hardship or the breakdown of his machines caused his death. It also provides no basis for diagnosing him with depression or any other mental health condition.
The World Health Organization explains that suicide results from a complex interaction of factors and cannot be attributed to a single event. Emotional distress, stressful life experiences, health concerns and social circumstances may all contribute.
Roland’s reported death highlights the importance of recognising emotional distress even among people who appear financially comfortable. Business ownership, properties and children living abroad do not, on their own, reveal the pressures an individual may be experiencing.
The wider concern about economic hardship in Nigeria makes access to timely emotional and practical support particularly important. Families, friends and colleagues can help by listening without judgment, taking expressions of hopelessness seriously and supporting those affected to seek professional care.
Anyone experiencing overwhelming distress or thoughts of self-harm should speak immediately with someone they trust and seek help from a qualified health professional. Where there is immediate danger, they should visit the nearest hospital emergency department and ask a trusted person to remain with them.
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