21 Year Old Lagos Man Sets Self on Fire

A 21-year-old man in Lagos, who was suffering from depression, attempted to commit suicide by setting himself ablaze.

The incident occurred on Monday night, in the Agbado, Egbe area, Punch reports.

The man, Utochukwu Ukandu, had reportedly told his parents countless times that he was frustrated and was contemplating suicide. However, his warnings fell on deaf ears until the suicide attempt.

A source stated that,  “he  [Ukandu]went inside the house and poured kerosene on his body. He wet the bed with the kerosene as well, including the house. He then lit a matchstick and set everywhere on fire.”

According to reports, Ukandu’s brother saw him setting himself ablaze, and alerted people in the area, and also called the Lagos State Fire Service.

The firemen reportedly arrived the scene just in time, dousing the burning man with 10,000 litres of water – thus saving his life.

However, he sustained a high degree of burns.

A case like this highlight the need for proper and accessible counseling services in Nigeria.