Residents of Adebiopon village in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State were thrown into shock on Wednesday after a 50-year-old traditional priest, Muritala Shodiya, allegedly set himself ablaze.

Sources within the community told our correspondence on Thursday that the incident occurred on Wednesday evening when the deceased reportedly poured petrol on himself inside an uncompleted building before igniting the fire.

Residents were said to have quickly intervened by extinguishing the flames before rushing him to the General Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, where he later died on Thursday morning.

Shodiya, popularly known in the community as “Ifa,” was widely recognised for his involvement in fortune-telling and Ifa worship.

He was said to have practised for years in the Ijaye area before relocating to Adebiopon Village.

A community source, who spoke anonymously because of the sensitive nature of the incident, alleged that the traditional priest had recently shown signs of emotional distress following marital challenges.

“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 frantic efforts to rescue the victim after noticing 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 added that although rumours initially circulated that some individuals might have been responsible for the incident, preliminary accounts suggested that the deceased 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 an investigation had commenced 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.

Kebbi State Hisbah Agency has arrested three underage Qur’anic school pupils, popularly known as Almajirai, for allegedly being in possession of hard drugs.
The development was disclosed by the agency’s Director of Da’awa and Public Awareness, Malam Sirajo Usman Kamba, while speaking with journalists in Birnin Kebbi.

Kamba said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects, aged between 10 and 13 years, are from Niger State and Maiyama Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

According to him, the agency has commenced investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding the children’s involvement in the alleged offence, including the roles of their parents and teachers.

He noted that the agency was concerned about the growing exposure of children to harmful substances and other social vices.

The Hisbah official assured that appropriate measures would be taken to protect the children and guide them away from negative influences in society.

Kamba also reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to promoting moral values and safeguarding the welfare of children across the state.

The suspects are currently in the custody of the agency as investigations continue.

Former Secretary to the Benue State Government (SSG), Prof. David Salifu, has died after reportedly sustaining gunshot injuries during an attack by suspected kidnappers.

According to reports, the incident occurred on Thursday in Wukari, Taraba State, while Prof. Salifu was travelling to Makurdi. 

He was said to have escaped from the assailants but suffered gunshot wounds during the attack.

He was rushed to a hospital in Makurdi for treatment but was later confirmed dead on Thursday night.

Further details surrounding the incident are still emerging, while authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the attack.

Efforts to reach Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, on the Benue Command were futile as she didn’t answer call.