A middle-aged woman believed to be mentally unstable has died after setting herself ablaze inside the family compound of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, in Bauchi.
The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the incident, saying the woman, who was once married and had children, sustained fatal first-degree burns after pouring petrol on herself and igniting a match.
Eyewitnesses said she arrived at the house in a commercial tricycle on September 26, carrying a gallon.
She reportedly asked to see Yelwa Abubakar Balewa, daughter of the late Prime Minister and Chairperson of BASOVCA. When told Yelwa was not home, the woman went to the Zaure (main entrance), poured the petrol on herself, and set herself on fire.
Her loud cries drew people to the scene, who tried to rescue her by pouring water, but this worsened the fire. She was later rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, where she died from her injuries.
According to witnesses, the deceased was the daughter of a late Sharia Court Judge in Bauchi. She was said to have told rescuers she did not know how she came about the petrol or when she poured it on herself before lighting the match.
Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Mohammed Ahmed Wakil, described it as “most unfortunate.” He said: “At about 1105hrs, an unidentified woman went to the Tafawa Balewa family house to see the daughter of the late Prime Minister. On being told she was not around, the woman brought out a gallon of petrol and matches, poured the liquid on herself, and lit up.”
He added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, directed the DPO, A’ Division, to investigate the matter. “The DPO led his surveillance team to the scene. The woman was rescued alive but with severe burns and taken to ATBUTH, where her statement was obtained,” Wakil explained.
Police said the woman claimed she mistook the petrol for water. Further investigations later revealed she had a history of mental illness which developed after she gave birth to her last child.
Wakil confirmed she died while receiving treatment and her body has since been released to her family.
“The Command commiserates with the family and prays Allah grants them the strength to bear the loss,” he added.
