A Lagos based man has reportedly set himself ablaze in a bid to escape the hardship in Lagos , Nigeria.
According to an eyewitness identified as Ben Chinedu, the deceased whose identity is yet to be ascertained, was prepared for his mission as he committed the grave act in Omole phase 1 area of Ojodu.
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The eye witness said;
He was shouting on top of his voice saying that he was tired of life. He narrated how he had been running from one person to other for assistance and everyone was saying things were difficult. He told people who cared to listen that the country was under a spell that cannot be cleansed.
“He said there was no hope and future for the youth, he could no longer bear the ‘suffering-and-smiling’ syndrome and pretence showed by most people. He threatened to kill himself, but people thought he was making empty threats.
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He poured the liquid on his body and brought out a lighter. He ignited fire on his body and he was burning. We started pouring water on him, but the fire had done enough damage before we put it out. We called the police who came to the scene and picked the man who was unconscious by then. We don’t know the man and where he came from.”
Confirming the story, Police public relations officer, CSP Chike Oti said the man was being treated at the Lagos State Emergency Centre, 7-Up area.
He said:
“Divisional Police Officer, Ojodu, received a distress call that a man set himself ablaze and raced to the scene with some officers. When the police arrived, they put out the fire and rushed the man to the Lagos State Emergency Centre, where he is being treated.
The man is still unconscious as he received third-degree burns. He is still unconscious as I am talking to you, but the Commissioner of Police has directed the DPO in charge of Ojodu to take the man who attempted suicide to the hospital.
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“it is a suicide attempt as people saw him set himself ablaze. It was not the usual jungle justice by a mob.
“He was the person who planned how to kill himself. The CP has ordered the DPO to investigate and find out who the man is and why he decided to take his life in a most agonising manner. We also call on members of the public who are looking for their missing relations to contact the Ojodu Police Station of the PPRO’s office to ascertain who the man is.”