‘Poverty and repeated abuse from my wife’ – Newly married man explains why he set himself on fire

A 30-year-old man, who is just barely two months into his marriage, has explained why he attempted to commit suicide.

Muritala Afolabi on Friday sustained serious injuries after setting himself ablaze in Iree, Osun State. He was rescued by passersby and rushed to the hospital.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro from his sick bed on Sunday, Muritala, a vulcaniser, said he decided to commit suicide having been subjected to emotional torture and frustration by his wife.

“I just thought of ending it. That Friday, I went into a filing station, bought fuel and went to a forest behind Baptist High School, Iree, and set myself ablaze.

“I thought of what I was passing through and it made me to decide to end my life. Poverty and repeated curses of my wife made me to lose hope. I married the woman just in July this year.

“Some people heard me when fire was burning my body and rushed to the scene. They rescued me and brought me to hospital.”

When contacted by our correspondent on the phone, Muritala’s wife, Ifedolapo, denied cursing him.

She said, “I don’t know why he decided to kill himself. I am his wife. I am yet to have any child for him.”