Heartbroken ‘Ifa’ Diviner Burns Himself To Death After Losing Wife To Another Man
A traditional priest, Muritala Shodiya, 50, has succumbed to burn injuries after he doused himself with fuel and lit a fire in Adebiopon Village, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Witnesses said Shodiya began displaying signs of emotional distress following the breakdown of his marriage after his wife left him for another man.
On Wednesday evening, Shodiya, popularly known as “Ifa,” reportedly poured petrol on himself inside an uncompleted building and ignited the fire.
Residents who rushed to the scene succeeded in putting out the flames and immediately evacuated him to the General Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta.
However, he died on Thursday morning while receiving treatment.
Shodiya was widely known in the area for fortune-telling and Ifa worship.
He had reportedly practised in Ijaye, Abeokuta, for several years before relocating to Adebiopon Village.
Another resident, identified simply as Kazeem, said villagers responded immediately after noticing the victim engulfed in flames.
“We rushed to save him, extinguished the fire and took him to the hospital. Sadly, we later heard that he died,” the resident said.
He added that although speculation initially suggested that someone might have set the victim on fire, available information indicated that the deceased acted alone.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, CSP Omolola Odutola, said officers visited the scene and commenced an investigation.
According to the police, Shodiya allegedly poured petrol on himself before setting himself ablaze inside the uncompleted building on July 1.
The command said he was rescued and taken to the General Hospital, Ijaye, for treatment, while detectives documented the scene and began investigations to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
T.O.
