A woman allegedly set herself on fire in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, due to her inability to repay a N70,000 loan obtained from a microfinance bank.
The woman, identified as Mama Dada, set fire to herself and her rented apartment in Abeokuta’s Oke-Keesi, Itoko district.
She allegedly committed suicide to avoid the embarrassment that would result from her inability to repay the N70,000 loan.
The deceased was said to have sent her last born to buy her fuel, locked herself up after the boy was asked to leave, wet everything with petrol, including herself, and set fire to the entire place over the weekend.
Her body was taken to the State General Hospital in Ijaye, Abeokuta.
In response to the incident, Olumide Aderinokun, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate in Ogun Central, expressed sadness.
Aderinokun described the deceased’s actions as tragic, lamenting the hardships women have faced as a result of the loan scheme.
Due to poverty, many traders in Ogun State have turned to usurers for assistance.
Due to the country’s poor economy, the majority of borrowers fail to meet their repayment obligations and are subjected to humiliating treatment, such as being arrested and locked up in toilets.
