Middle-aged man sets self ablaze in Rivers

A middle - aged man , who was simply identified as King , on Sunday, set himself ablaze in what many believed was an accomplished suicide mission .

The incident happened inside the victim ’ s room in Odaga community, Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.

It was gathered that King , was said to have locked himself inside his room before setting himself on fire .

The incident , which had left the entire community worried, happened at dawn , a development that made it difficult for the victim to be rescued.

It was learnt that by the time neighbours noticed the smoke oozing from the deceased’ s room, the fire incident had intensified which made it impossible for anybody to go in.

Neighbours had to break down the window to rescue the victim who was already unconscious .

Efforts to save the life of King , proved abortive as he died while being rushed to a nearby clinic for medical attention.

A relative of the victim , who simply identified himself as Pastor Duke , told Southern City News that King could have possibly taken his life out of frustration as he had lost his male siblings and recently his mother , whose remains were still in the mortuary .

The incident , according to Duke , aggravated his smoking and drinking habit , adding that Duke explained that the deceased who returned home on Sunday morning was drunk while holding a lit cigarette .

Duke added the fire could have started from the cigarette he was smoking before he slept off .

He said , “ King was a father of three and his wife is eight months pregnant ; he was the only surviving male of his house and to make matters worse , he just lost his mother , who is still in the mortuary as we speak .

“ It is possible that he was frustrated , because lately he has increased his smoking and drinking habits and is mostly drunk .

“ That night , King came home drunk and was smoking a cigarette, and I think the fire from the cigarette must have caught his mattress , which eventually caused the fire . ”