Shock and confusion gripped residents of Adebiopon Village in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State on Wednesday after a 50-year-old traditional priest, Muritala Shodiya, allegedly set himself ablaze.
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when Shodiya reportedly doused himself with petrol inside an uncompleted building before setting himself ablaze.
The residents quickly extinguished the fire and rushed him to the General Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, where doctors pronounced him dead on Thursday morning.
Before the incident, Shodiya, popularly known as “Ifa,” was widely known for fortune-telling and Ifa worship.
He had reportedly practised in Ijaye for several years before relocating to Adebiopon village.
Speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the incident, a community source alleged that Shodiya had set himself on fire after showing signs of depression.
“We learnt that he set himself on fire. He had not been himself since his wife left him for another man. He had been showing signs of depression,” the source said.
