Ahmed, the mentally ill drug addict who set himself ablaze after dousing himself with petrol, on Wednesday, at Omole Estate, Ojodu, Lagos, has died.
According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the former barber died while receiving treatment, after being rescued. Ahmed was running a barber’s shop until his life recently took a drastic turn due to drug abuse.
A resident, Tolu, said that he saw Ahmed walking along the road on Monday and advised him on the need to turn a new leaf. He said,
“He was a barber and used to have a shop around Akiode. He closed the shop some time ago and started roaming about the neighbourhood. He smoked a lot which I think affected his brain.”
Another eyewitness, Samuel, described Ahmed as a drug addict, saying that he had been mentally unstable for some time.
“Many people around here know him. He used to be a decent person before he suddenly changed as a result of drugs. He lived with his family within this community and they are aware of his plight,” she said.