A 50-year-old Ogun Ifa priest, Muritala Shodiya, died after reportedly setting himself on fire in an unfinished building, with residents attributing the incident to marital problems.
The traditional priest, identified as Muritala Shodiya, was allegedly found engulfed in flames after pouring petrol on himself and setting himself ablaze in Adebiopon Village, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State.
Shodiya, popularly known as “Ifa,” was reportedly discovered in flames Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Witnesses said they rushed to extinguish the fire and transported him to General Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Before his death, Shodiya was recognized as an Ifa priest and fortune teller in the community. He had practiced in Ijaye, Abeokuta, for several years before relocating to Adebiopon Village.
Residents expressed shock over his death, with many describing him as friendly and not the type to commit such an act.
A community source, speaking anonymously, claimed Shodiya had been emotionally distressed since his wife allegedly left him for another man.
“We learned that he set himself on fire. He hadn’t been himself since his wife left him for another man. He had been showing signs of depression,” the source said.
Kazeem, another resident, stated villagers attempted to rescue Shodiya after seeing him on fire. He dismissed rumors that someone else attacked him, insisting the traditionalist acted alone.
“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 Shodiya had crawled out of the area while burning and emphasized that, contrary to some rumors, he was not set on fire by another person.
The Ogun State Police Command confirmed it has started investigating the circumstances of his death.
Police spokesperson Babaseyi Oluseyi stated that Shodiya had allegedly poured petrol on himself and set himself ablaze inside an unfinished building before being rescued and taken to the hospital.
“The victim was rescued and taken to the General Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, for treatment. Police officers visited the scene, documented the incident, and commenced an investigation,” the police spokesperson said.
Shodiya’s wives expressed their devastation over the incident, describing him as a kind man and saying they never expected such a tragedy. They stated they were not present when it happened and only learned about it from neighbors.
The details surrounding Shodiya’s death remain under investigation. The residents’ claims linking the incident to marital challenges have not been independently confirmed by authorities.
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