Man sets self ablaze, dies in Jos

One Muhammad Ibrahim, Thursday morning, committed suicide after setting himself on fire, reportedly following a fight with his biological father on Wednesday, an eye witness said.

The arsonist, Muhammad, was reported to have Wednesday night beaten his father, Alhaji Ibrahim, causing fracture to his (father’s) hand.

Muhammad and his father lived at William Street in Jos and reportedly committed the arson near Jos Garden, about 600 metres away from his house.

Blueprint gathered from an official of Jos University Teaching Hospital where Muhammad was taken to, that he later died after admission at the survey room.

An eye witness, Usman Ahmad, who operated his business close to Jos Garden of Peace and Forgiveness on Zaria Crescent, adjacent OLA Hospital where Muhammad committed the arson, said they saw him entering the place about 7:30am, holding a gallon.

“He entered when we were working, holding a gallon in his hand. He sat over there and after some time, he began to sniff something from the gallon and latter on we saw fire on his body.

“He began screaming but there was no water; we rushed to buy pure water, poured on him and yet the fire was still on. We later fetched water from this gutter but before we could put the fire off, his cloth and body had all been burnt,” he said.

Ahmad said, Muhammad’s father and relations went to the scene, and later policemen picked him off to the hospital.

He said as at the time the police picked him, he was breathing.

According one of Muhammad’s close friends who pleaded anonymity, “Muhammad had quarreled with his father yesterday (Wednesday), he broke his father’s hand, and one of Muhammad’s younger brothers also beat Muhammad that same night.”

He said Muhammad was not an insane and was neither a drunkard nor known to have been into illicit drugs.

“He is my man, he is married and has two kids,” he added.

As at the time of filling this report, calls to the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ubah  Ogabah, was not responded to.

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