Horror and grief has embodied the people of Panshekara community in Kano state after a young man, Suleiman Muntari set himself ablaze in broad daylight.
According to a close source, Muntari had been showing signs of emotional and mental distress earlier before he decided to lit himself to go to paradise.
An eye witness, Saminu Isah who told the story disclosed that he deceased wandered the street talking to himself and exhibiting other signs of abnormality before he finally poured petrol and set himself on fire.
Isah also reported that some residents in the community alleged that he may have been under the influence of a strong substance.
He said; “He said he wanted to go to Paradise. People around thought he was just talking out of stress or frustration. Nobody imagined he would actually go through with it.
According to him, Muntari could not be rescued as he had caught flames before residents could intervene, so he died.
Another resident of the area, Aisha Salisu also said that the deceased was “obviously” not okay before he killed himself.
“It was obvious he wasn’t okay. You could tell from the way he was walking and talking. There was a strong smell coming from him, and he was shouting things that didn’t make sense,” she said.
Salisu also disclosed that the deceased had a strange smell oozing from his body moments before he set himself ablaze.
“When the fire started, people poured water on him and tried dragging him into a drainage full of water, but the flames had already done too much damag He was staggering and talking nonsense,” she added.
At the time of reporting this, local authorities are yet to provide an official statement as residents are left in confusion what could have really gone wrong with the deceased. Many are suggesting that something serious be done about the rising wave of mental cases amongst youths.
