A man identified as Suleiman Muntari tragically set himself on fire in Kano, leaving residents stunned and raising concern over mental health and drug abuse
Kano tragedy man sets himself ablaze in an incident that has left residents of Panshekara Road reeling in disbelief.
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Suleiman Muntari, whose behaviour in recent days had sparked concern among neighbours, died after setting himself on fire in broad daylight on the outskirts of the city.
Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene as the man, seemingly in a state of psychological breakdown, drenched himself in petrol and struck a match while shouting that he wanted to go to Paradise.
Despite efforts by onlookers to stop him, the fire spread quickly, and their attempts to extinguish the flames came too late.
“At first, some people thought he was joking. Then he poured the petrol and lit the fire. It all happened so fast,” said a witness who chose to remain anonymous.
Another witness, Saminu Isah, recounted the panic that followed. “He kept saying it was his ticket to heaven. People screamed, some ran, others tried to stop him, but it was already too late.”
While some residents believe Suleiman may have been under the influence of hard drugs, others say he had been exhibiting signs of emotional instability and erratic behaviour for days. Aisha Salisu, a neighbour, described him as appearing unwell and incoherent.
“There was a strange smell on him. He was staggering and talking nonsense,” she said. “When the fire started, people poured water on him and tried dragging him into a drainage full of water, but the flames had already done too much damage.”
Commercial tricyclist Ibrahim Jafar, who witnessed the incident, called it a nightmare. “His skin was melting off. Some young boys tried to help by pulling him into the gutter, but by then, it was already over.”
The tragic event has sparked renewed conversations around mental health awareness, substance abuse, and the urgent need for community-based interventions. Local authorities are yet to release an official statement on the matter.
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As residents of Panshekara mourn the deeply unsettling loss, the haunting image of Suleiman’s final moments lingers—a painful reminder of the silent struggles many face behind closed doors.
