By Uzair Adam
A woman in Jigawa State has died by self-immolation after reportedly being devastated by her recent divorce.
The 40-year-old, whose identity has been withheld, set herself on fire in Garin Mallam village, located in the Guri Local Government Area.
The incident was confirmed by DSP Lawan Shiisu, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state, in a statement released on Friday in Dutse.
According to Shiisu, the woman poured petrol on herself and set herself ablaze on the outskirts of the village.
“On Thursday at about 7:40 a.m., the command received heartbreaking news from Guri that a woman had set herself on fire after pouring petrol on her body. The incident occurred in Garin Mallam village, and she was burnt beyond recognition,” Shiisu stated.
Following the report, officers from the Guri Divisional Police Headquarters were dispatched to the scene to verify the incident. The woman’s charred remains were subsequently taken to a hospital and later released to her family for burial.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the woman had been struggling with depression for several months after her divorce.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ahmadu Abdullahi, expressed his condolences and urged the public to seek guidance and counseling from elders when facing difficult situations.
He also encouraged people to entrust their affairs to a higher power for solace.