A tragic incident has shaken the Panshekara community in Kano State, where a young man identified as Suleiman Muntari reportedly set himself on fire in broad daylight, leaving residents in shock and grief.
According to eyewitnesses, the young man had displayed signs of mental and emotional instability prior to the act. He was seen earlier in the day aimlessly wandering the streets, muttering unintelligibly and behaving in an erratic manner that drew concern from passersby. His behavior, though troubling, did not immediately suggest he was capable of such a drastic act.
“He kept talking about wanting to go to Paradise. Most people assumed he was just going through a tough time emotionally, maybe depressed. No one thought he would actually act on it,” recounted Saminu Isah, who witnessed the incident firsthand.
Without warning, Muntari doused himself in petrol and ignited a matchstick, setting himself ablaze before anyone could intervene. Though people rushed to help, the flames spread rapidly and overwhelmed him.
Aisha Salisu, a nearby resident, noted that the victim appeared to be in an altered state of mind, possibly due to substance abuse. “It was clear something wasn’t right. He smelled strange and was shouting things that made no sense. The way he moved and spoke—it was not normal,” she said.
The authorities are yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident. However, the deeply disturbing event has triggered renewed public discourse about the growing prevalence of mental health challenges among young people in Nigeria.
Many are calling for urgent government intervention and better access to mental health support and rehabilitation services.