Residents of Adebiopon Village in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State have been left in shock after a 50-year-old traditional priest, Muritala Shodiya, allegedly set himself ablaze.
The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday evening when Shodiya, popularly known as “Ifa,” allegedly poured petrol on himself inside an uncompleted building before setting himself on fire.
Residents quickly rushed to the scene, extinguished the flames and took him to the General Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, where he later died on Thursday morning.
The deceased was well known in the community for practising Ifa worship and fortune-telling. He reportedly spent several years in the Ijaye area before relocating to Adebiopon Village.
A community source, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the incident, claimed the traditional priest had recently been battling emotional distress following the breakdown of his marriage.
“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.
Another resident, identified simply as Kazeem, said villagers made desperate efforts to save Shodiya after discovering him engulfed in flames.
“WE RUSHED TO THE SCENE TO SAVE HIS LIFE. WE PUT OUT THE FIRE AND TOOK HIM TO THE HOSPITAL, BUT I JUST HEARD THIS MORNING THAT HE HAS DIED,” KAZEEM SAID.
He explained that although there were initial rumours suggesting the victim might have been attacked, preliminary accounts indicated that he acted alone.
“ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE CLAIMED THAT OTHER PEOPLE SET HIM ON FIRE, HE ACTUALLY SET HIMSELF ABLAZE. HE CRAWLED OUT OF THE BUSH WHILE HE WAS ON FIRE.
“HE FORMERLY LIVED IN IJAYE-ADEBAKIN, ABEOKUTA, BEFORE MOVING TO ADEBIOPON VILLAGE IN OBAFEMI OWODE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA,” HE ADDED.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Babaseyi Oluseyi, said police had launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the case.
“ON JULY 1, 2026, A 50-YEAR-OLD MAN, MURITALA SHODIYA, ALLEGEDLY SET HIMSELF ABLAZE AFTER POURING PETROL ON HIMSELF IN AN UNCOMPLETED BUILDING AT ADEBIOPON VILLAGE,” OLUSEYI STATED.
“HE WAS RESCUED AND TAKEN TO THE GENERAL HOSPITAL, IJAYE, ABEOKUTA, FOR TREATMENT. POLICE OFFICERS VISITED THE SCENE, DOCUMENTED THE INCIDENT, AND COMMENCED AN INVESTIGATION,” HE ADDED.
