A Nigerian man living abroad has sent shockwaves across social media after sharing a harrowing account of a near-fatal accident he experienced during a surprise visit to Lagos.
A Secret Visit Turns Terrifying
The incident, which the man identified as happening on July 15, began as a well-intentioned plan. The man, who goes by the handle @YusufAsunmogejo on X (formerly Twitter), had secretly flown into Nigeria to surprise his family. After landing at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) past 7 PM, he opted to take a tricycle, commonly known as a keke, to his sister's house near the airport, considering it the safest and quickest option at the time.
His sister was completely unaware of his arrival. The first leg of his keke journey was uneventful. However, just five minutes into his second ride, and a mere 30 steps from his aunt's gate, disaster nearly struck.
Divine Intervention on a Quiet Street
According to his detailed post, the keke driver suddenly lost control, veering directly towards a head-on collision with a trailer. The man was sitting in the front passenger seat, completely exposed to the impending impact.
"To this moment, I cannot explain how we missed that impact; it was nothing short of divine intervention," he wrote. He stated unequivocally that if the crash had occurred, he would have been the first casualty, likely crushed instantly given his vulnerable position.
The chilling reality of his escape only fully hit him later that night. He was gripped by the terrifying "what ifs" of the scenario. He imagined his aunt hearing the crash, looking out her window, and pitying an anonymous victim, never knowing it was her younger brother whom she believed was safe in Europe.
The Ironic Geography of Life and Death
One detail of the near-tragedy particularly haunted him: the location. The hospital down the road where his lifeless body would have been taken was the exact same hospital where he was born.
"Think about the terrifying poetry of that: To travel thousands of miles only to have my life clock stop at the exact coordinate where it started," he reflected. He noted the stark irony of surviving a long-haul international flight only to almost lose his life on a short, supposedly safe keke ride in his homeland.
His story, shared in the wake of news about boxer Anthony Joshua's own fatal car accident, carried a profound message about mortality. "We walk around planning for the next decade, forgetting that we don't even own the next minute. Death is indeed closer to us than we think," he concluded.
Nigerians React with Shared Stories and Prayers
The post quickly garnered massive attention, with many Nigerians flooding the comments section to share similar experiences and reflections on life's fragility.
One user, Nullum, shared a heartbreaking personal story: "In 2017, while [an] accident occurred a few km ahead of me on the road, on reaching I witnessed the scene and shook my head... I said a prayer for the 'strangers' and the journey continue[d], only to be called that my father was among 'strangers'."
Saykeeen responded with a prayerful reflection: "Aameen. Death is indeed the greatest lesson to mankind. No one was promised to live till old age..."
Another user, Adeniyi Sanusi, added a philosophical perspective: "Amen. The day we realise that we aren't in control of life, the day our attitude toward living will change."
The viral account serves as a sobering reminder of the unpredictable nature of life and has sparked widespread conversation online about gratitude and perspective.
