Police say the deceased had a history of mental illness and mistook petrol for water before the incident.
A middle-aged woman 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, disclosing that the woman sustained fatal burns after pouring petrol on herself and striking a match.
Eyewitnesses said she arrived at the residence in a tricycle on September 26, asked to see Yelwa Abubakar Balewa, daughter of the late Prime Minister, and when told she was absent, proceeded to ignite herself at the Zaure (entrance).
She was rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) but later died.
Police spokesperson CSP Mohammed Ahmed Wakil described the case as “most unfortunate,” noting the woman had a history of mental illness. “She mistook the petrol for water,” Wakil added.
The Command confirmed her remains have been released to her family while investigations continue.